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Central Valley update: HSR project reports labor gains, right‑of‑way progress and plans to rebaseline schedule
Summary
The California High‑Speed Rail Authority’s Central Valley update reported increased construction labor, near‑completion of right‑of‑way parcels, approved environmental milestones for segments, and staff plans to rebaseline and accelerate work to preserve the November 2026 target for early operation.
Dr. Gary Walker, the authority’s PDS executive program director, told the Finance and Audit Committee in May that Central Valley construction activity shows progress on labor, utility relocations and right‑of‑way, and that staff will pursue a rebaseline and acceleration plan to help meet the authority’s November 2026 target for the early operating segment.
The nut graf: The Central Valley update summarizes near‑term construction and permitting status that underpins schedule targets for the Merced‑to‑Bakersfield early operating segment. Staff emphasized earned‑value tracking and an acceleration plan to close a reported performance gap.
Walker reported that construction labor increased by about 160 workers from the prior period to roughly 1,501 workers and that right‑of‑way efforts continue: he said 2,294 parcels had been delivered to date (described as 99% achieved on the metric cited) and that the set of railway parcels needed showed 88% achieved to date. He also reported that utility relocations and structure completions continue on schedule for the period presented.
On environmental review and project development, Walker said the administrative draft environmental impact report/environmental impact statement for the Los Angeles–Anaheim corridor was released in February and remains on target for a December 2025 milestone. He noted recent approvals for project records of decision: the Merced segment delivered in December 2024 was approved April 18, 2025, and the South segment delivered in January 2025 was approved March 7, 2025.
Walker described earned‑value performance for CP1 as tracking behind the baseline, saying, “we will be rebaselining to look at an acceleration program to maintain our target end date of November 2026.” He told the committee the current earned‑value baseline showed a scheduled performance index around 0.94, which he described as approximately 6% behind schedule, and said staff intends to produce CP1–4 earned‑value analysis and introduce additional risk and certainty metrics in future reports.
Walker also summarized change‑order and contingency activity for the Central Valley packages as reported in the monthly pack and noted the prior finance presentation’s reference to nine change orders totaling about $20.5 million (breakdown: CP1 and CP2–3). He said the authority would circulate more detailed change‑order line items after the meeting.
During questions, the committee asked for a contracting sequence and schedule for rolling‑stock maintenance facilities, overhead contact system (OCS) procurement and station construction; staff said an updated sequence schedule would be available for the next full board meeting. Walker concluded his presentation and invited questions.
No formal decisions or votes on project scope, contracts or rebaselining occurred in committee; staff presented status and next steps for monitoring and accelerating work.
