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Posted on 10/29/2026 12:54:12 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The CEO of California’s high-speed rail authority resigned late Wednesday, saying he needs to focus on “important personal and family priorities,” according to a copy of the emailed resignation obtained by CalMatters.
“This has not been an easy decision, as leading the Authority has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding chapters of my professional life,” wrote Chief Executive Ian Choudri.
He will be replaced by Joe Stephenshaw, who has led the state Department of Finance since July 2022 after working as a policy analyst in the state Legislature for more than a decade, the board announced Thursday morning following a closed session.
The abrupt announcement comes in the midst of a two-day meeting of the board that oversees the project, which continues Thursday. It follows Choudri’s tumultuous two-year tenure, which has been troubled by budget woes, project delays, transparency concerns and various scandals including the misuse of nearly $600,000 in taxpayer money for questionable trips by rail authority consultants.
Under Choudri, the authority also lost $4 billion in federal funding under President Donald Trump’s administration, after the agency repeatedly missed deadlines required by the funding agreement to buy trains. The state initially sued Trump for the funding but abruptly dropped the lawsuit in December 2025, blaming Trump as “not a reliable partner” and turning to private investors instead.
Choudri did not respond to an email or a text from CalMatters requesting comment Wednesday night. His resignation took effect immediately, board chair Steve Kawa said Thursday.
(Excerpt) Read more at calmatters.org ...
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The guy should spend the rest of his life driving a garbage truck.
At least he would be going somewhere, anywhere.
Lol.
Personally rewarding, but nowhere close to productive.
Well, to be honest they couldn’t take the train.
“questionable” travel expenses are a spit in the ocean: they’re just scapegoating the fired CEO, pretending a doomed-from-the-start project is all his fault ... maybe ignorant CA voters will but that, but CalTrain’s woes can’t be fixed with a new CEO, IOW, meet the new boss, same as the old boss, and meet the “new” project, just as doomed as the old project ...
Head of California high-speed rail agency resigns amid travel expenses scandal
“Head of California high-speed rail agency resigns amid travel expenses scandal”. Too much of Gavin’s hair gel?
LOL.
This change of leadership will undoubtedly cause a delay in the nearing completion planned for the project. Just when they were getting so close. 🐢🐢🐢🐢
Train....
Newsom on setback of project: “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Sounds like another cheater and padding his wallet.
UNLESS THERE IS A TIME LIMIT-—HE STILL HAS 2 MORE YEARS TO DO THAT.
We may never see any trains running. Someday the whole thing will crash and burn. The poor taxpayer will be left with the bills.
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