California high-speed agency to seek RFQs for initial construction within three months

Last week, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) sent letters to companies that had expressed interest in constructing the state’s high-speed rail system to provide details on upcoming contract packages.

Within the next 90 days [starting from Aug. 1?], CHSRA plans to release the first request for qualifications for the first segment of the high-speed rail line: a more than 100-mile corridor in the Central Valley. The authority plans to seek requests for proposals in early 2012.

The initial construction will be divided into five packages:

• A large design-build contract for a 26- to 37-mile segment between the San Joaquin River north of Fresno, south through the city of Fresno to East American Way. The exact length will be determined on the final alignment that is chosen through the environmental process. The work will include 12 grade separations, two viaducts, one tunnel and a crossing over the San Joaquin River. The package will total between $1 billion and $2 billion.

• Smaller design-build construction packages totaling between $500 million and $1 billion that will be divided regionally. Segments include: a 28-mile section from South Fresno to Hanford Aroma Road, including 20 grade separations and three viaducts; a 55-mile section from Hanford Aroma Road south to Dresser Avenue, including 21 grade separations, one viaduct and four river crossings; and a 14-mile section from Dresser Avenue south to Allen Road, including two grade separations and one major viaduct.

• All trackwork for the entire length of the initial construction segment.

CHSRA currently has about $6 billion in funding available to construct the system's first segment.