The California High Speed Rail Authority (Authority) board approved issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Merced to Madera civil works collaborative design-build contract, a key step toward extending the nation’s first high-speed rail system north toward Merced County.

The procurement represents a major expansion of active high-speed rail construction.

“With this action, we’re accelerating the work needed to bring clean, electrified high-speed rail to more of the people of California — starting with Merced,” said Ian Choundri, CEO at the Authority. “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. By advancing this link and pursuing new clean energy public-private partnership opportunities, we’re building momentum and strengthening the long-term financial sustainability of high-speed rail.”

From Merced to Madera

The Merced to Madera contract covers major civil work along the segment, including grading, structure construction, and roadway improvements. The project represents the next phase of extending California’s high-speed rail system north through the Central Valley, building on the 119 miles of construction already underway.

The procurement follows a collaborative design-build process, allowing the Authority and competing teams to work together during project development to refine design, reduce risk, and improve cost and schedule certainty before a final contractor is selected.

The solicitation for this procurement will be issued this summer. Two teams will be shortlisted by the end of 2026, with early collaboration beginning shortly thereafter.

Major construction on this new segment is anticipated from late 2027 through 2030. The full contract is estimated at approximately $2.4 billion.

Clean Energy Public-Private Partnership Advances

The board also received an update on a new solicitation for the Cal CLEAN Partnership Agreement, a long-term initiative focused on securing reliable clean power for future high-speed rail operations while exploring opportunities to generate additional value from Authority-owned assets and infrastructure, supporting the Authority’s statutory requirement to deliver a system that can operate without ongoing taxpayer subsidy. This effort complements the recently executed rail infrastructure Co-Development Agreement with Momentum Alliance Partners LLC, which is currently evaluating opportunities to accelerate project delivery and expand private-sector participation in the program.

Under the solicitation, a selected public-private partner will spend six months identifying potential clean energy and commercialization concepts at no cost to the Authority before any future development agreements are considered. The exploratory phase will evaluate opportunities to support future system power needs, strengthen energy resiliency, and maximize the value of public infrastructure investments.

Statements of Qualifications are expected this summer, with a recommended partner identified in August and an initial project identification agreement targeted for September 2026, launching the first phase of a long-term effort to support California high-speed rail’s future energy and operational needs.

Progress on High-Speed Rail in California

Work continues daily on the high-speed rail project, with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield, according to officials.

More than 80 miles of guideway are complete, along with 61 major structures fully completed and 30 more underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties.

The project continues to advance statewide, with 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction-ready.

Throughout construction, the project has created nearly 19,200 jobs — most of which are filled by Central Valley residents — and generated nearly $25 billion in economic impact and growth across the state, said Authority officials. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.