In this joint venture, Flatiron will develop a major link of the first high-speed rail system in the United States — currently the largest infrastructure project in the nation. California High-Speed Rail will connect the metropolitan areas of San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as other California cities and the state’s capitol, with a commuter rail capable of reaching speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. Rail infrastructure will be able to support an anticipated top speed of 220 miles per hour and when completed, the commuter line will stretch approximately 800 miles, with 24 stations dotting the route.

A one-way trip between San Francisco and Los Angeles is expected to take no more than three hours, reducing pressure on the state’s taxed airport and highway infrastructure, particularly along the I-5 corridor.

As part of Construction Package 2-3 (CP 2-3), Flatiron, in partnership with Dragados and project engineers Jacobs Engineering Group and Sener, will design and construct a more than 65-mile high-speed rail segment from Fresno to near Allensworth, a critical swath cutting through the state’s Central Valley region. CP 2-3 involves construction of more than 60-grade separations, including viaducts, underpasses, and overpasses.

In coordination with the California High-Speed Rail Authority, our JV team will also be responsible for designing and constructing bridges, culverts, drainage, trenches, tunnels, as well as relocating utilities. Also, the team will construct at-grade, aerial, and potentially below grade sections of the route; relocate existing tracks; and construct waterway and wildlife crossings, in addition to roadway reconstructions, relocations, and resurfacing. The project will involve pouring an estimated 180,000 cubic yards of concrete, 20 million cubic yards of embankment, and 2-million tons of aggregate.

CP 2-3 is expected to bring a substantial economic boom to the state’s Central Valley region. Flatiron also adopted the authority’s Community Benefits Agreement, which supports the employment of designated disadvantaged workers and individuals who reside in economically disadvantaged areas. In addition, the authority set a 30-percent goal for small business participation, including a 10-percent goal for disadvantaged business enterprises and a 3-percent goal for disabled veteran business enterprises. The JV team has instituted a small and disadvantaged business program that meets and exceeds project goals.

Three teams submitted proposals to the authority for the design-build contract. The authority evaluated and ranked proposals based on technical merit and cost, with technical factors including expertise and understanding of the project, schedule capacity, project approach, and safety. The project is estimated to be finished in 48 months.

Awarded contract to design and construct major link of the first high-speed rail system in the United States, currently the nation’s largest infrastructure project

Commuter train capable of reaching speeds greater than 200 miles per hour and can reach San Francisco from Los Angeles in under three hours 

Construction Package 2-3 (CP 2-3) will involve the development of more than 65 miles of high-speed rail from Fresno to near Allensworth, as well as the design and construction of more than 60 grade separations, including viaducts, underpasses, and overpasses