The 34-mile segment between Merced and Madera aims to extend the rail network deeper into California’s Central Valley, with a planned terminus at Sacramento.
- The California High-Speed Rail Authority issued a request for qualifications for a $2.4 billion civil works collaborative design-build contract focused on the Merced to Madera portion of the project, according to a June 25 news release.
- The contract scope covers major civil work along the 34-mile segment, including grading, structures and roadway improvements, per the release. Following the RFQ, the authority will issue a solicitation for procurement later this summer and plans to shortlist two teams for the job by the end of 2026.
- “Delivering an operating Central Valley segment is a key step toward ultimately connecting California’s major population centers in the north and south,” Ian Choudri, the authority’s CEO, said in the release. “As we prepare to begin track installation later this year and launch the next phase of construction, Californians will begin to see the system take shape.” More
