Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. was awarded a contract to provide design services for the Construction Package 2-3 (CP 2-3) of the California High-Speed Rail, which represents the continuation of construction on the system south toward Kern County.

Jacobs is the lead designer for the Dragados-Flatiron Joint Venture for the design-build contract and is responsible for the infrastructure design. Officials estimate the construction value to be $1.2 billion.

The California high-speed rail system is the first true high-speed rail being constructed in the U.S., with operating speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. The ultimate program stretches from San Diego to San Francisco and includes connections in major cities along the alignment, such as Los Angeles, Burbank, Palmdale, Bakersfield, Fresno and a spur to Sacramento.

The CP 2-3 is expected to provide 65 miles of infrastructure improvements required for the future high-speed rail, including over 10 million yards of new HSR embankment, 23 HSR structures and 32 new roadway grade separations. The project covers a 65-mile portion of the 120-mile initial construction segment, which will be used as a test track for vehicles before being put into service.