California Bullet Train CEO Steps Away After Domestic Violence Arrest

The chief executive of California's troubled high-speed rail project has temporarily stepped away from his role following a February arrest on domestic violence allegations. While no charges were filed, Ian Choudri is taking time off as his family deals with the situation privately.

The leader of California’s troubled high-speed rail project has stepped away from his position temporarily after facing domestic violence allegations that led to his arrest earlier this month.

Ian Choudri, who heads the California High-Speed Rail Authority as CEO, was taken into custody on February 4th in Folsom, a city near Sacramento, confirmed police Lieutenant Lou Wright. Authorities have not released further information about the incident.

No charges were filed against Choudri, and prosecutors did not require him to make a court appearance, according to his attorney Allen Sawyer. Choudri has decided to take several days off from his leadership role, his lawyer indicated.

“While my client appreciates that this legal matter has been thoroughly evaluated, his family needs time to privately process and heal,” Sawyer stated. “He remains committed to his work, and this short absence will also give the board space to independently review the conclusions of the legal process.”

Neither the prosecutor’s office, the rail authority, nor California’s transportation department provided responses to requests for comment.

News of Choudri’s arrest became public this week when Sacramento television station KCRA first broke the story.

The rail authority brought Choudri on board in 2024, drawing from his experience with European high-speed rail networks. His mission has been to breathe new life into what ranks as the country’s most ambitious infrastructure undertaking, which has been plagued by soaring expenses and lost federal support during the previous Trump presidency.

The ambitious project aims to link San Francisco and Los Angeles by high-speed rail.

In previous interviews with The Associated Press, Choudri expressed his desire to join the effort to “completely turn it around” and secure stable financing. His strategy has involved seeking private sector partnerships to help fund the massive undertaking.

Last year, Governor Gavin Newsom and California legislators committed to providing $1 billion each year through 2045 for the project, funded through the state’s cap-and-trade program designed to cut emissions from major polluters.

When California voters initially backed $10 billion in bonds in 2008, they were told this would cover roughly one-third of the expected costs and that trains would be operating by 2020. More than four years beyond that target date, officials now estimate the project could require over $120 billion to complete.