Merced High Speed Rail Project

High-speed rail has the potential to shape Merced for generations, and our community deserves clear, timely, and factual information about the decisions being considered and how they may affect Merced.

This page is a central resource for updates on the Merced high-speed rail project, including City announcements, meeting updates, news and opinion pieces, project information and opportunities for community engagement.

As discussions continue, the City will share what we know, what is still being worked through and what comes next. Our goal is to keep the community informed as plans develop, commitments are considered and decisions are made.

Merced High-Speed Rail Timeline

Follow the latest developments involving the proposed Merced high-speed rail station and see how the project has evolved over time.

August 2026

City and County Continue Discussions with the State

City of Merced and Merced County leaders continue discussions with the California High-Speed Rail Authority and state and federal representatives regarding the future of the Merced station.

The City and County remain aligned on a central priority: Merced must be included in Segment 1, Phase 1 of the California High-Speed Rail project.

Discussions have also focused on the transportation, infrastructure, public safety, land use and financial impacts associated with a potential station location in Southeast Merced.

The City and County have asked the State and High-Speed Rail Authority to work with local and regional agencies to establish a comprehensive and enforceable regional mitigation plan addressing those impacts.

The August 26 City-County Joint Letter is available in the documents section to the right.

July 6, 2026

Council Reviews High-Speed Rail Update and Public Outreach

The City Council received an update on High-Speed Rail activities and discussed additional ways to keep the community informed as conversations about the Merced station continue.

The Council report included a historical white paper, information about station options and a presentation documenting City and regional discussions following the August 2025 Supplemental Project Update.

View the July 6, 2026, administrative report and supporting documents

View the July 6, 2026, City Council meeting

June 2026

2026 High-Speed Rail Business Plan

The California High-Speed Rail Authority adopted its 2026 Business Plan, which identified a Southeast Merced station concept near Mission Avenue.

While the Business Plan identified the proposed station area, important details remained unresolved, including station design, land requirements, infrastructure needs, transportation connections and responsibility for associated costs.

2026 Business Plan webpage

February – June 2026

City and Regional Discussions Continue

City representatives continued working with Merced County, the Merced County Association of Governments and the California High-Speed Rail Authority on the proposed station location and the infrastructure, transportation, public safety, land use and funding issues associated with it.

Throughout these discussions, the City continued advocating for Merced's inclusion in Segment 1, Phase 1 of the project.

January 27, 2026

Council Continues Discussion of Proposed Station Relocation

The City Council continued its discussion of a possible station near Mission Avenue and Highway 99 and considered conceptual support for the relocation while requiring continued discussions with the High-Speed Rail Authority on issues important to Merced.

Those issues included Mission Avenue and surrounding transportation improvements, fire and public safety facilities, infrastructure, annexation and land use, Campus Parkway, transit connections, station design, project timing and existing state commitments to Merced.

View the January 27, 2026, administrative report and attachments

View the January 27, 2026, City Council meeting

January 12, 2026

High-Speed Rail Presents Southeast Merced Station Concept

Representatives from the California High-Speed Rail Authority presented an update to the City Council that included a proposal to relocate the station from Downtown Merced to Southeast Merced.

Following the presentation, the Council directed the Council Transportation Committee and City staff to continue discussions with the Authority and regional partners and further evaluate the proposal.

View the January 12, 2026, administrative report and attachments

September 2025 – January 2026

City and Regional Partners Meet with High-Speed Rail

The City Council Transportation/High-Speed Rail Subcommittee, City staff, Merced County and MCAG participated in a series of discussions with High-Speed Rail representatives regarding the future of the Merced station.

Discussions included project phasing, station location, transportation connections, infrastructure and the potential impacts of relocating the station.

August 2025

State High-Speed Rail Plans Begin to Change

The California High-Speed Rail Authority released its 2025 Supplemental Project Update, introducing significant changes to the planned delivery of high-speed rail in the Central Valley.

The update raised questions about Merced's place in the first phase of the project and the future location of the Merced station.

Following the update, City representatives, Merced County and MCAG began discussions with High-Speed Rail Authority staff and board members.

The City's priority throughout these discussions has been ensuring that Merced remains part of Segment 1, Phase 1 of the statewide high-speed rail system.

June 25, 2025

Downtown Station Area Planning Continues

The City Council and Planning Commission held a joint study session on the City's Comprehensive General Plan Update and Downtown Station Area Plan.

The discussion included previous planning for the Downtown station, future growth and annexation, and opportunities for continued community involvement.

View the June 25, 2025, meeting, agenda and video

January 2, 2024

Council Approves Funding for Downtown Station Planning

The City Council approved two reimbursement agreements with the California High-Speed Rail Authority to continue planning for the Downtown Merced station.

The agreements provided up to $500,000 for station area land use and vision planning and up to $300,000 for City technical review of project plans, utilities and design documents.

View the January 2, 2024 City Council meeting

2018

High-Speed Rail Update Presented to City Council

The City Council received a presentation on the California High-Speed Rail project as planning for the Merced station and regional rail connections continued.

View the September 2018 City announcement

2016

Downtown Station Area Planning Begins

The City launched a community planning process for the area surrounding the proposed Downtown Merced high-speed rail station.

The effort focused on land use, transportation, infrastructure and opportunities to connect the station with future investment in Downtown Merced.

Learn more about the Station Area Plan

View the February 2016 community meeting announcement

This timeline will be updated as additional information, agreements and decisions become available.