High-Speed Rail Consultants Billed Taxpayers for Rides from CEO’s Home, Records Show

Expense records obtained by CBS California show that highly compensated consultants for the California High-Speed Rail Authority charged the public for numerous rides originating from or returning to CEO Ian Choudri’s private residence in Folsom. The findings emerged from an investigation into the authority’s travel expenses, conducted after the state’s independent inspector general uncovered widespread failures in overseeing consultant travel.

Among those who submitted expense claims were Brent Butzin, a Denver attorney serving as a legal consultant, and Thierry Prate, a managing director at financial adviser KPMG. Both individuals booked Lyft and Uber rides late at night from Choudri’s home. One ride occurred just before midnight, and another was requested shortly after 1 a.m. These trips were billed as business expenses related to the multibillion-dollar high-speed rail project.

CBS California reviewed nearly 6,000 pages of invoices and expense reports submitted by KPMG and the law firm Nossaman between September 2024 and January 2026. The documents reveal a dozen rides to or from Choudri’s residential street, along with another dozen trips to nearby Folsom restaurants and bars. Several of these rides involved late-night or early-morning pickups.

While the receipts do not confirm who was present during these gatherings or whether Choudri participated, they highlight previously undisclosed connections between consultant travel and the CEO’s private home. Questions remain regarding who authorized these rides and what state business justified trips to a residential area, sometimes after midnight.

The scrutiny comes as the high-speed rail project faces significant challenges. Nearly two decades after voters approved the bullet train connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles, California has spent over $15 billion without laying a single mile of track. The state recently lost $4 billion in federal funding due to missed deadlines, and the independent watchdog warns the project could exhaust its funds by the end of 2027. Currently, the authority is paying four consulting contractors more than $250 million over two fiscal years.

When asked about the late-night rides following a special board meeting, Choudri walked away without answering. The authority’s communications head stated that Choudri would not respond to questions and directed reporters to email inquiries. In a general response, the authority announced it is tightening travel oversight, updating reimbursement rules, and requiring new training for consultants and contract managers. However, the response did not directly address the specific rides in question.

KPMG stated it is reviewing the travel expenses and will reimburse the authority as appropriate. Russ Grote, KPMG’s Managing Director of Corporate Affairs, emphasized the firm’s commitment to responsible stewardship of client resources. None of the three parties—Choudri, Butzin, or Prate—responded to requests for comment.

One internal email connected a ride directly to work with Choudri. When questioned by the authority, KPMG described one of Prate’s rides to the CEO’s residence as “related to work with Ian.” On that evening, Prate’s Lyft arrived at the Folsom home shortly after 7:30 p.m., and his next documented ride departed the same address after 1 a.m.

Additionally, Prate’s receipts document a $94.39 pizza delivery from a Folsom restaurant to Choudri’s home via Uber Eats. The authority disputed this charge, and the consultant accepted the dispute, meaning taxpayers did not pay for the food. However, they did cover Prate’s ride home.

Butzin’s expense paperwork revealed discrepancies. Five travel forms listed the purpose of his trips as “Meetings at CHSRA in Sacramento,” but attached receipts showed travel to restaurants and other locations in Folsom, approximately 30 minutes away. The business-entertainment sections of these forms were blank.

The investigation also uncovered a late-night trip to Washington, D.C., in May 2025. Prate billed roughly $60 for Lyft rides between a cigar lounge and his hotel around 1 a.m., while Butzin billed over $1,300 for the same trip without providing receipts.

The inspector general’s report highlighted pressure surrounding travel approvals. Butzin reportedly pushed back when asked to justify his trips, arguing that the CEO had requested his presence and that questioning the CEO was inappropriate. A contract manager informed investigators she was directed to approve the expenses because the CEO had requested the trips. The inspector general concluded that the CEO did not have the authority to override state contract travel requirements.

While the report does not establish that anyone was fired, sources inside the authority suggest concerns extend beyond travel expenses. They describe a workplace where some consultants are perceived to have unusual influence due to their relationships with leadership, raising questions about whether employees feel empowered to challenge spending decisions.