Mixed fortunes for California’s high-speed rail plans

The first section of California’s first high-speed rail line remains on course but court rulings threaten to delay the first shovels breaking ground.

The authority overseeing the construction of the new line has now signed a design and build contract worth $985 million with the Tutor Perini, Zachry and Parsons joint venture (JV) for the Madera-Fresno section.

If the $68 billion project goes ahead, the line will eventually create a 1,300-kilometre high-speed link between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Ronald Tutor, chairman and chief executive of Tutor Perini, said: “We are truly excited to be building the groundwork for America’s first high-speed rail system and look forward to working with the authority to deliver a high-quality project that will modernize California’s transportation system and support economic growth.”

Last year, the first 210-kilometre segment of the route between Madera and Bakersfield was given the go ahead. But last week, a California judge dealt what could be a serious blow to the project after ruling that the California High-Speed Rail Authority had failed to meet requirements surrounding funding and environmental reviews that were promised to voters in 2008.




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