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California Awards $3.5 B High-Speed Rail Contract, Tracklaying Starts

6/3/2026

Summary

High-Speed Rail Awarded

The California High-Speed Rail Authority awarded a $3.5 billion contract to Kiewit, Stacy Witbeck and Herzog for the 119-mile guideway to Merced and Bakersfield.
Tracklaying will begin by Nov. 30 on 22 miles between Shafter and the Tulare-Kern line.
A 150-acre Kern County railhead will serve as the hub for rail, concrete ties, ballast and materials.
The project has created nearly 19,200 jobs and generated about $25 billion in statewide economic activity.

Summary

Kawa Appointed Chair

Steve Kawa was appointed chair of California High-Speed Rail Authority board.
Jason Elliott warned of an $86.8 billion shortfall for the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles line while Leti Valencia and Norma Cordona opposed leasing land for data centers and battery storage, citing fire risk and water scarcity.
The Authority is scouting Fresno and Hanford for a facility, noting that Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer’s proposed levy is not in the plan, per Henry Perea.

History

Historical Context

Japan built the Tokaido Shinkansen, opening on 1 Oct 1964 to ease overloaded Tokaido Main Line, and it carried 100 million passengers by July 1967, demonstrating rapid economic return. That success inspired later high-speed projects, including California’s High-Speed Rail Authority, which in 2024 awarded Kiewit a $3.5 billion contract despite an $86.8 billion funding significant gap.

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High-Speed Rail Awarded

The California High-Speed Rail Authority awarded a $3.5 billion contract to Kiewit, Stacy Witbeck and Herzog for the 119-mile guideway to Merced and Bakersfield.
Tracklaying will begin by Nov. 30 on 22 miles between Shafter and the Tulare-Kern line.
A 150-acre Kern County railhead will serve as the hub for rail, concrete ties, ballast and materials.
The project has created nearly 19,200 jobs and generated about $25 billion in statewide economic activity.

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