Report Prepared by: Frank Quintero, Deputy City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Approval to Authorize Outreach Efforts, Including but not Limited to a Module on Engage Merced to Share Activities Relating to the High-Speed Rail Project
REPORT IN BRIEF
After reports from City Council’s High-Speed Rail (HSR) Sub-Committee and Staff, City Council will be asked to consider authorizing the creation of a module on Engage Merced and other outreach efforts.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion authorizing the creation of a module on Engage Merced to share activities from August 2025 to present regarding High-Speed Rail Activities, including but not limited to, illustrating the transition of the station from Downtown Merced to Southeast Merced.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Provide alternative staff direction; or,
2. Refer to staff for reconsideration as requested by the City Council; or,
3. Defer action until a specific date; or,
4. Take no action
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200, et. seq.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
City of Merced FY 2026-2027 Budget, Section 7, Economic Development, Objective #3, “Coordinate High Speed Rail, continue to be the clearinghouse for High-Speed Rail and assist in station planning as well as community impact.”
DISCUSSION
Since the publishing of the 2025 Supplemental Project Update Report (Supplemental Report) in August 2025, the City, County, and Merced County Association of Governments have regularly engaged with the High-Speed Rail Authority. Originally, the Supplemental Report suggested that Merced be bypassed in favor of extending the High-Speed Rail line from Madera to Gilroy. After several meetings with the High- Speed Rail Authority, the Merced Station remained as being part of Segment 1, Phase 1. However, High-Speed Rail suggested moving the station from Downtown to the Southeast Merced on the westside of Highway 99 at Mission Avenue adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. On June 1, 2026, the High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors adopted the 2026 Business Plan that called out relocating the station to Southeast Merced.
During the adoption of the Business Plan, the Board and High-Speed Rail CEO Ian Choudri emphasized the need to move at rapid pace to build the project and have it operational by 2033.
Discussion has focused on the pros and cons of keeping the station in Downtown Merced versus Southeast Merced. Questions remain unanswered such as what the is land area that will be used for the station and other High-Speed Rail uses, the design of the station and platform, assuring the necessary infrastructure and other facilities are available to serve the new station, and so on.
The Council Subcommittee, City Staff, Merced County, and MCAG have been engaged in and with High-Speed Rail to assure that Merced remains in Segment 1, Phase 1 of the project.
Background Information on High-Speed Rail
Attachment 1 provided a condensed summary of the City’s interactions with the High Speed-Rail Authority board members and staff. City staff will provide a briefing on the communication and business that took place with the High-Speed Rail Authority starting from August 2025 when 2025 Supplemental Project Update was published to the adoption of the 2026 Business Plan.
Included in Attachment 1 is the main correspondence sent to the High-Speed Rail Authority from the City of Merced and as part of the League of California Cities coalition.
Upon conclusion of the presentation (Attachment 3), staff is requesting direction from City Council regarding whether additional information or conducting other meetings to convey to the interactions that have taken place between the City and High-Speed Rail Authority is desired.
Staff recommends creating a module on Engage Merced to share all activities from August 2025 to present, social media to provide updates regarding High-Speed Rail Activities, and story maps to illustrate the transition of the station from Downtown Merced to Southeast Merced.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOUCES
No appropriation of funds is needed currently.
ATTACHMENTS
1. White Paper & Background - High-Speed Rail Authority
2. HSR Merced Station Options
3. Merced HSR Actions Presentation