High-Speed Rail Authority: business plan: Merced to Bakersfield segment.

Assembly Member Tangipa's high-speed rail legislation requires the California High-Speed Rail Authority to develop a comprehensive funding strategy for the Merced to Bakersfield segment as part of its May 2026 business plan. The required funding plan must detail the current financial gap for segment completion and outline specific approaches to address this shortfall.

The bill mandates that the Authority's funding strategy include an itemized list of anticipated funding sources, a timeline for securing these funds, and an analysis of potential project delays if funding sources do not materialize. The Authority must also evaluate the probability of obtaining each proposed funding source, identify major risks to securing these funds, and present mitigation strategies for these risks. Additionally, the plan must explore options for initiating service on the segment, including estimated schedules and associated costs.

This new reporting requirement adds to the Authority's existing obligations under the California High-Speed Rail Act, which already requires biennial business plans and project updates to the Legislature. The legislation maintains the established definition of the Merced to Bakersfield segment from current code while creating additional planning and disclosure requirements for this specific portion of the project.