Five firms to vie for California high-speed rail project's next phase

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) announced Monday that five construction teams have qualified to bid on the next phase of construction for the plan to build a high-speed rail route between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Construction Package 4 (CP4) involves constructing 22 miles of track through Tulare and Kern counties. This phase of the project is expected to cost $400 million to $500 million, CHSRA officials said in a press release.

The chosen firm will provide design and construction work for CP4, which includes relocating four miles of existing BNSF Railway Co. tracks and construction of waterway and wildlife crossings.

The firms that met the authority's standards for construction are:
• California Rail Builders: Ferrovial Agroman US Corp.;
• Central Valley Connection Builders: FCC Construccion S.A. and Corsan-Corviam Construccion S.A.;
• Dragados/Flatiron Joint Venture: Dragados USA, Inc. and Flatiron West Inc.;
• Salini Impregilo/Security Paving Joint Venture: Salini Impregilo S.p.A. and Security Paving Company, Inc.; and
• Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons a Joint Venture: Tutor Perini Corporation, Zachry Construction Corporation and Parsons Transportation Group Inc.

"The amount of interest we receive about the high-speed rail program indicates a competitive market and interest from respected industry leaders who want to be a part of construction and delivery of the first high-speed rail system in the nation," said CHSRA Chief Executive Officer Jeff Morales.