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C I T Y O F M E R C E D
City Administration (209)-385-6834 www.cityofmerced.org J
anuary 27, 2026
M
r. Ian Choudri
Chief Executive Officer
California High-Speed Rail Authority
770 L Street, Suite 620
Sacramento, CA 95814
R
e: City of Merced – Conceptual Consideration of Station Relocation D
ear Mr. Choudri:
On be
half of the City of Merced, thank you for your continued engagement with our region as we collaborate together to deliver a transformative statewide high-speed rail system.
As a result of our mutual desired goal of ensuring the successful buildout of a high-speed rail system that includes in its first phase a station location in Merced, I am writing to express the City’s conceptual support of the Merced High- Speed Rail station relocation.
As you consider a potential shift to a site in southeast Merced, I look forward to continuing our dialogue and partnership that we have established over the past decade to ensure a a comprehensive, thorough, transparent, and collaborative evaluation of this alternative, including its consideration for inclusion in the upcoming draft business plan.
W
e recognize station siting involves difficult tradeoffs among system performance, constructability, long-term operations, environmental considerations, community access, and regional economic impacts . A thorough review can help determine whether the changed location better advances your goals while delivering clear and measurable benefits to the Merced region. The southern Merced County site warrants objective analysis particularly given potential advantages related to land availability, construction logistics, multimodal connectivity, and access for residents across the county and surrounding communities.
T
he City emphasizes that any station location should promote equitable access, support sustainable economic development, and integrate existing and planned transportation networks and local land-use priorities. We appreciate the Authority’s ongoing communication and encourage continued coordination with Merced County, the City of Merced, and regional partners as this evaluation moves forward. The City stands ready to work in partnership with the Authority to support a data- driven process and identify solutions that maximize regional benefits in a timely manner.
ATTACHMENT 2
DRAFT
Ian Choudri
CHSRA
January 27, 2026
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hank you for your leadership and continued work to advance a high-speed rail system that will serve Californians for generations. We look forward to a continued relationship and dialogue to help assist you in completing this transformative high- speed rail project in a manner that maximizes the benefits and vision for the Merced region.
I
am available at 209-385-6834 should you want to discuss this matter further.
S
incerely,
S
cott McBride
City Manager
City of Merced
Cc
: To Be Determined
DRAFT