California High-Speed Rail Authority names Choudri CEO

The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (CHSRA) board has appointed Ian Choudri CEO. He will succeed Brian Kelly, who is retiring.

Choudri currently serves as senior vice president for HNTB Corp. There, he has worked with federal and state level partners on a variety of transportation and infrastructure issues. In California, he helped develop future connections between the Ontario Airport with the future Brightline West terminus in Rancho Cucamonga.

Choudri previously served as a vice president for Parsons Corp., senior project director for Bechtel Civil Infrastructure and a commercial director for Alstom.

“[Choudri’s] strong understanding of complex transportation projects will help build on the progress we’ve been making and lead the organization forward on a path to passenger service,” said CHSRA Chairman Tom Richards. 

U.S. High-Speed Rail Association (USHSR) officials praised CHRSA's choice of Choudri as its leader.

“Ian Choudri is the right executive at the right time to lead America’s most ambitious high-speed rail project as it advances toward initial operations,” said USHSR Coalition Co-Chair and former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “He brings deep experience in project management and technical expertise on a wide range of complex infrastructure programs.”

In January, Kelly announced plans to retire after six years with the CHSRA and more than 30 years leading transportation policy issues in California. He believed the time was right for a transition to new leadership after continued progress and forward momentum on the project.

The CHSRA has begun work to extend the 119 miles currently under construction to 171 miles of future electrified high-speed rail from Merced to Bakersfield. There are more than 25 active construction sites in California's Central Valley.