High-Speed Rail Update
Review of Actions
SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECT UPDATE TO 2026 BUSINESS PLAN
JULY 6, 2026
ATTACHMENT 3
HOW DID
WE
GET HERE?
2 August 2025 – Proposal to
Bypass Merced and head
to Gilroy from Madera
• Public Comment
at HSR Meeting
• Letter to HSRA
• Coordinated
meetings with
HSR staff
Merced Regional Partners Respond
Regional Partners
County of Merced
Merced County Association of
Governments
City of Merced
Subcommittee on
Transportation
3 5 meetings from September
2026 to December 2026
CEO
Staff Members
Board Members
High-Speed Rail Contacts
What Happened to ACE and Amtrak?
4 Three trains, one
station …
Funding struggles
Amtrak hub moves
to Madera
PROPOSED HSR STATION RELOCATION
HWY 99/Mission Av/UPRR
Letter From the City Council
5 Robust Meetings, Strategic Outreach
We weren’t through!
2 Council meetings in
January 2026
5 Additional meetings with
HSR in January to June 2026
High-Speed Rail Lobby Day
7 meetings with Legislators
and Governor’s Office
Staff
6 HSR – 2026 DRAFT Business Plan
7 Business Plan issued on
February 28, 2026
Public comment period
ended April 29, 2026
HSR Board heard testimony
on April 29, 2026
Draft Letter of Comment from
the City to HSRA.
Adopted June 1, 2026
CITY’S LETTER OF COMMENT – KEY POINTS
8 2026 Business Plan
Station Relocation
Downsized Station
Updates to SB 198
Tax Increment Financing
HSR Land Use Control
Encroachment Permit Process
Shared Benefit Costs
FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY
City Council Direction
• Approved Letter of
Comment to the HSRA &
Technical Document
• Authorized the City
Manager to submit the
letter to the HSRA
9 Other Factors to Consider
M2M Engineering
General Plan Update/Downtown
Plan
Potential Annexation
Facilities, Infrastructure, &
Improvements
Funding & Agreements
Timing of Funding
Mission Ave & Hwy 59
Downtown Merced
10 New Station Unknowns
11 Design/Platform/Building
Land Area
Capacity for solar power
Capacity for data center
Next Steps … Direction from Council
Coordinate outreach with
Senior Management
Analyst/PIO
Media briefings
Social media
Engage Merced
Op Eds
Council briefings
Coordinate with High-Speed Rail
Community briefing on:
Land area
Design of station and platform
Solar power generation
Data centers
12 COUNCIL CONSIDERATION -
QUESTIONS?