MERCED, Calif. [Friday, August 28, 2026] — City of Merced and Merced County leaders are calling on the California High-Speed Rail Authority and state officials to develop a comprehensive, enforceable regional mitigation plan as discussions continue regarding the proposed relocation of Merced’s high-speed rail station.
In a joint letter sent this week to California High-Speed Rail Authority Chair Stephen Kawa and Chief Executive Officer Ian Choudri, local leaders reaffirmed that the City and County remain aligned in their position that Merced must be included in Segment 1, Phase 1 of the high-speed rail project.
The letter follows a recent meeting in Sacramento with local, state and federal leaders, including Congressman Adam Gray, to discuss the Authority’s proposed Mission Avenue station location and the transportation, infrastructure and economic impacts associated with a potential relocation.
The City and County are requesting that the state convene the agencies and regional partners necessary to develop a binding Merced Regional Transportation and Station Mitigation Plan.
The requested plan would address transportation and rail connectivity, public safety, infrastructure, economic impacts, funding responsibilities and implementation schedules. It also calls for resolution of longstanding regional transportation commitments, including ACE service to Merced and completion of the Campus Parkway and Merced Loop transportation system.
“The City and County have been committed partners in high-speed rail for decades,” the letter states. “If the state now determines that a different station location is necessary, it must also accept responsibility for the transportation, economic, and infrastructure consequences of that decision.”
City and County leaders emphasized that participating in discussions regarding the Mission Avenue location should not be interpreted as support for relocation or as a waiver of existing state commitments to Merced.
The City and County are requesting that relocation and mitigation be addressed together, with projects, funding sources, responsible agencies and implementation schedules identified before irreversible decisions regarding the station are made.
The full letter is available at engage.cityofmerced.gov
Media Contact
Jennifer Flachman
Public Information Officer
City of Merced
(209) 564-0235
flachmanj@cityofmerced.gov