California high-speed rail chief takes leave after arrest over domestic violence allegations

California High-Speed Rail CEO Takes Leave Following Domestic Violence Arrest

The chief executive officer of California’s High-Speed Rail Authority has taken a temporary leave of absence after being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence earlier this month, adding another setback to the state’s already troubled bullet train project.

Ian Choudri, who was appointed in 2024 to reinvigorate California’s ambitious high-speed rail initiative, was arrested on February 4 in Folsom, a suburb of Sacramento, according to police. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges, citing insufficient evidence after investigators found no injuries on either Choudri or his fiancée, who was also arrested during the incident.

“Our office takes all allegations of domestic violence incredibly seriously, regardless of who the suspect is or what position they hold in our community,” the district attorney’s office stated.

Through his attorney, Allen Sawyer, Choudri indicated he would take “a few days” away from his role to allow his family to “privately process and heal.” Sawyer emphasized that prosecutors have not requested Choudri to appear in court following the investigation.

“He remains committed to his work, and this short absence will also give the board space to independently review the conclusions of the legal process,” Sawyer added.

A spokesperson for the rail authority confirmed that Choudri’s leave would provide time for both the agency and the state transportation department to review the situation, while assuring that the project would continue uninterrupted.

This latest development compounds the challenges facing California’s high-speed rail project, which has been plagued by delays, funding issues, and mounting costs since its inception. When California voters approved $10 billion in bonds for the project in 2008, they were promised a high-speed connection between San Francisco and Los Angeles by 2020, with the state covering approximately one-third of the total cost.

Sixteen years later, the reality has fallen far short of those expectations. Current projections estimate the total cost has ballooned to more than $120 billion—more than triple initial estimates—with even the Central Valley segment not expected to be operational until 2032. The full San Francisco to Los Angeles route lacks both a timeline and complete funding.

The project suffered another major setback in 2019 when the Trump administration canceled nearly $1 billion in federal funding, citing California’s failure to make sufficient progress. Although the Biden administration later restored those funds, the project continues to face significant financial hurdles.

When interviewed by The Associated Press last year, Choudri expressed his determination to “completely turn it around” and stabilize funding for the troubled project. His strategy has included seeking private sector partnerships to help finance the massive infrastructure undertaking.

The rail project did receive some financial stability in 2023 when Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature approved a dedicated funding stream of $1 billion annually through 2045, drawn from California’s cap-and-trade program, which generates revenue by requiring large polluters to purchase emission allowances.

Supporters maintain that high-speed rail represents a crucial investment in California’s transportation future, offering a cleaner alternative to air and highway travel in America’s most populous state. Critics, however, point to the ongoing delays and ballooning costs as evidence of mismanagement and unrealistic planning.

Choudri’s appointment had been viewed as an opportunity to bring European high-speed rail expertise to the California project. His leave of absence, prompted by the arrest first reported by KCRA-TV in Sacramento, represents yet another challenge for an infrastructure project that has struggled to maintain public confidence amid years of setbacks.

The rail authority has not announced who will lead the agency during Choudri’s absence or how long the internal review might take.