California Construction News staff writer
The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors has approved the launch of the first phase of the largest track and systems installation effort in the United States, marking a major milestone in the development of the state’s high-speed rail network.
The Board awarded the Track and Systems Construction Contract to an American-led consortium consisting of Kiewit, Stacy Witbeck, and Herzog. The team will be responsible for installing the rail track, overhead electrical systems, train control technology, and communications infrastructure necessary to transform 119 miles of completed guideway in California’s Central Valley into a fully electrified high-speed rail corridor capable of supporting trains traveling up to 220 mph.
The approval represents a significant shift in the project from large-scale civil construction to the development of an operational railway system.
“Bringing on board the team that will build California’s high-speed rail track and systems marks the moment this program transforms from major civil construction into delivering an operating railway,” said Authority Chief Executive Officer Ian Choudri. “We are now accelerating toward installing the first true high-speed rail track ever built in the Western Hemisphere.”
The decision follows the completion of track installation at the Authority’s 150-acre southern railhead facility in Kern County. The site will serve as the primary staging and distribution center for rail and system components and is now prepared to receive shipments of rail, concrete ties, ballast, and other materials that have already been procured by the Authority.
Project officials say the contract’s phased structure will allow crews to begin installing track and systems as soon as individual sections of civil construction are completed, helping to reduce delays and improve overall efficiency.
The contract emerged from a competitive procurement process launched in November 2025. To streamline construction and control costs, the Authority has independently secured many long-lead materials in advance, positioning the project for rapid deployment once installation work begins later this year.
In addition to construction goals, the contract includes commitments to expanding opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. The agreement establishes a 25 percent small business participation target, including a 3 percent goal for microbusinesses, along with a 3 percent disabled veteran business enterprise goal.
Construction on the high-speed rail system continues across the Central Valley, where 171 miles between Merced and Bakersfield are currently under design or construction. According to the Authority, more than 80 miles of guideway have been completed, along with 60 major structures. An additional 30 structures remain under construction in Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties.
Statewide, environmental clearance has been completed for 463 miles of the planned 494-mile rail system connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles/Anaheim, bringing much of the project closer to construction readiness.
The project has also become a significant economic driver for California. Officials report that nearly 19,200 jobs have been created during construction, with most positions filled by Central Valley residents. The Authority estimates the project has generated nearly $25 billion in economic activity statewide, while as many as 1,700 workers report to construction sites each day.
With the track and systems contract now approved and key materials already secured, state officials say California’s high-speed rail project is entering one of its most visible and consequential phases as it moves closer to becoming an operational transportation system.
