Construction continues Wednesday, March 30, 2022 on pillars for High Speed Rail in Hanford just north of Highway 198.
Sacramento, California – A new statewide poll shows that support for California’s embattled high-speed rail project is not only holding steady—it’s gaining momentum.
According to a Politico–UC Berkeley survey conducted for the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association, 67 percent of California voters now support the project, an 11-point increase from similar polling in 2022. Only 33 percent remain opposed. The findings represent a significant shift in public sentiment, particularly given the project’s well-documented delays, escalating costs, and frequent political opposition.
Initially approved by voters in 2008, California’s high-speed rail is the largest rail infrastructure initiative in the country. While it has taken over a decade to reach the track-laying phase, construction is now underway on a 119-mile stretch through the Central Valley. Support for the project remains strongest among Democrats (82 percent) and Independents (63 percent). Notably, even 42 percent of Republican voters—traditionally the project’s most vocal critics—expressed approval.
The renewed support comes amid heightened debate at both the state and federal level. President Donald Trump, who has long derided the project as bloated and unnecessary, reiterated his opposition in May, calling it “a stupid project that should have never been built.” He went on to label it a “green disaster” and vowed not to direct federal funding toward it.
Governor Gavin Newsom quickly countered, with a spokesperson pointing to Trump’s own record: “Hard pass on fiscal tips from the self-described ‘King of Debt’ who ran a steak company, a casino, and a global economy—all into the ground.” Newsom has proposed allocating an additional $1 billion annually to keep construction moving and capitalize on existing progress, which includes over 50 completed structures along the route.
The project’s backers argue that high-speed rail is not simply an investment in infrastructure, but a necessary pivot for a state—and a country—choked by congestion and climate concerns. “California voters are tired of traffic jams and airport delays,” said Andy Kunz, president of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association. “Support is growing because people see the system they rely on grinding to a halt.”
Senator Alex Padilla added that the project offers more than convenience. “High-speed rail is the future of transportation—with the potential to bring customers to new businesses, businesses to new employees, and to connect communities hundreds of miles apart with affordable and faster transit.”
As lawmakers weigh Newsom’s funding proposal, the public appears increasingly ready to embrace a vision of California connected by speed and sustainability—even if it’s taken longer than anyone expected to arrive.
