California High-Speed Rail Authority Issues $2.4bn RFQ for 34-Mile Merced–Madera Segment

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has issued a request for qualifications for a $2.4bn collaborative design-build civil works contract on the 34-mile Merced–Madera segment in California's Central Valley.

The procurement marks a major commitment to extend the high-speed rail network deeper into the Central Valley, with the contract covering grading, structures and roadway improvements across the 34-mile alignment. The segment is part of the broader California high-speed rail system designed for 220 mph operation. According to the authority, procurement will continue later this summer, with major construction expected to begin in late 2027.

The RFQ is the first step in selecting a contractor for the civil works package. The design-build delivery model consolidates design and construction responsibility under a single contract, a procurement approach the authority has used on other segments of the project. The Merced–Madera section will connect two Central Valley cities and form part of the planned corridor linking Northern and Southern California.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is advancing construction on multiple segments of the planned statewide network. The $2.4bn contract value reflects the scale of civil engineering required for high-speed rail infrastructure, including earthworks, viaducts, grade separations and utility relocations across the 34-mile alignment. The Central Valley segments are currently the most active construction zones on the project, with the authority targeting completion of an initial operating section in the valley before extending north to the San Francisco Bay Area and south to Los Angeles.