Governor Newsom welcomes new CEO of California High-Speed Rail

SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today welcomed the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s new CEO Ian Choudri after the Authority’s board voted to approve the appointment this morning.

With over 30 years of leadership experience in the transportation sector, Choudri takes the helm at an important, transformational stage for California’s ambitious high-speed rail project. In January, Authority CEO Brian Kelly announced his planned retirement after six years leading the project and over 30 years leading transportation policy issues in California.

The new CEO selection comes as the project marks significant progress – with historic funding from the Biden-Harris Administration, all environmental reviews from Los Angeles to the Bay Area complete, trainset selection underway, station and track construction on deck, and nearly 14,000 good paying jobs created.

“Ian’s deep experience and get-it-done attitude are impressive, and he’s taking control at an important moment for this project. Over the next few years, the dream of high-speed rail in California will become a reality, as we begin to lay track, design and build stations, and buy trains. Ian is the perfect steward for the next phase of high-speed rail. I want to thank Brian Kelly for his years of leadership on this project, and for bringing California closer to dream reality.

“Our efforts are bigger than one project – this is about transforming ground transportation for the world’s 5th largest economy, while showing the nation what is possible with enough vision and will, and bringing a cleaner transportation future to California. This is critical to California’s economic future as we link whole regions — universities and businesses, tourists and commuters — with fast, efficient service from the Bay Area, through the Central Valley and into Southern California.”

Choudri’s experience covers all facets of high-speed rail development, including initial planning, stakeholder management, feasibility studies, construction, operations and maintenance.

Choudri currently serves as Senior Vice President at HNTB Corporation, an American-based infrastructure design firm that has extensive experience working on federal and state-level transportation infrastructure projects and systems.

In his current capacity, Choudri serves as a national strategic advisor to multiple rail, transit and transportation agencies that require an understanding and ability to navigate unique technical, regulatory and financial challenges.

In California, Choudri has worked with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority to develop a tunnel mobility solution that will shuttle passengers between the Ontario Airport and the future Brightline West terminus in Rancho Cucamonga.

Earlier in his career, Choudri spent over a decade working on high-speed train technology and train control systems in France and Spain, giving him deeper knowledge and understanding of complex projects and train systems.