- Ferrovial Agroman will design and build a 22-mile (35 km) stretch of the California High-Speed Railway.
- The project is valued at 442 million dollars, including 107 million for relocating gas, power and communications networks
- Work is expected to be completed in 2018.
Ferrovial, through subsidiary Ferrovial Agroman, has signed an agreement with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to design and build a 22-mile (35 km) section of high-speed railway line in the Central Valley for 442 million dollars (about 407 million euro). The price includes 107 million dollars (98 million euro) for relocation of gas, power and communications networks.
The line, between Wasko and Shafter, forms part of the 100-mile (161 km) central section of the high-speed railway line between Fresno and Bakersfield, connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The work will include at-grade, retained fill and aerial sections of the alignment, relocation of four miles of existing line, construction of waterway and wildlife crossings, and roadway reconstruction, relocations and closures. This phase has already received state and federal environmental clearances. Work is scheduled to be completed in 2018.
The agreement establishes that 30% of the work must be outsourced to small local state-certified employers. It also includes acceptance of the Community Benefits Agreement, designed to enable workers in disadvantaged groups to benefit from work and training opportunities.
Ferrovial Agroman was chosen because of its extensive experience in the design, construction and maintenance of high-speed railway lines. The company has participated in some of the most complex transport projects in Texas, such as the LBJ and NTE toll roads in Dallas, and has built one-quarter of Spain's high-speed rail network, having worked on all the lines developed to date.
CHSRA is responsible for the planning, design, construction and operation of the first high-speed railway system in the United States. In 2029, the line will connect Los Angeles and San Francisco at speeds of over 320 km/hour, bringing the journey time to under three hours. The network will extend to Sacramento and San Diego, measuring 1,300 km in length, with 24 stations.
