High Speed Rail Authority officials describe the milestone as "the moment this project truly begins to become a railroad."
After nearly a decade of construction, the California High Speed Rail Authority has awarded a construction contract of up to $3.5 billion to lay the system's first tracks. A joint venture of firms Kiewit, Stacy Witbeck and Herzog will construct the tracks between Merced and Bakersfield in phases, each requiring board approval.
"The board’s new chair, Steve Kawa, described the award as a turning point for a project that has been slow to clear environmental rules, acquire the necessary right-of-way and build out infrastructure," The Fresno Bee reports. "'Today the conversation changes,' he said during the meeting. “Track and system construction is the moment this project truly begins to become a railroad.'"
Read the full story: CA High-Speed Rail OKs $3.5B contract that puts laying first tracks on new timeline
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