By: @Marcus Detwiler
Last week, CSDA joined other local government stakeholders, including the California State Association of Counties, Urban Counties Caucus of California, Rural County Representatives of California, and League of California Cities in expressing opposition to certain tax revenue-related and utility-related issues discussed in reports by the CEO of the California High Speed Rail Authority (Authority) as well as the California High Speed Rail Authority’s draft 2026 Business Plan.
In reports to the Authority last year, particularly within the August 2025 CEO Report in the “Legislative Support” section, Authority CEO Ian Choudri identified items for legislative advocacy, including the idea to “[e]mpower the Authority with certain regulatory powers, including zoning and land use permitting controls, over land it owns and land within a one-half mile radius of high-speed rail stations, to facilitate the development of transit-oriented communities, and allow the Authority to capture sales and property tax increment resulting from such development to support station area infrastructure investments.”
The Authority’s desired legislative changes are also referenced in its draft 2026 Business Plan:
CSDA opposes any attempt to forcibly redirect tax revenues away from affected taxing agencies without their express, meaningful, and freely-given consent. CSDA likewise opposes improperly shifting any costs associated with utility relocations and/or betterments onto local agencies. To that end, in addition to the coalition letter referenced above, CSDA provided public comments to the Authority at its March 4 meeting outlining our opposition. It’s not too late for special districts and other organizations to similarly express opposition to the draft 2026 Business Plan
The Authority is providing the following options for submitting comments on its draft Business Plan. The comment period is from February 28 through April 29:
Online comment form at: 2026 Draft Business Plan Comment Form
By email at: BusinessPlan2026@hsr.ca.gov
By U.S. mail to the Authority: California High-Speed Rail Authority Attn: Draft 2026 Business Plan 770 L Street, Suite 1180, Sacramento, CA 95814
When submitting your agency’s comments, be sure to provide a copy of your comments to CSDA by emailing advocacy@csda.net.
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