fresnobee.com - High Speed Rail

Rail board to weigh first-stage contract

The California High-Speed Rail Authority's staff will formally ask the agency's board to award a contract for designing and building the first construction section in the Madera-Fresno area to the lowest bidder.

Kings County fights for its lawsuit against high-speed rail

Kings County opponents of high-speed rail are battling the California High-Speed Rail Authority to keep their legal fight on track.

High-speed rail board member wants more info about project contractor

At least one member of the California High-Speed Rail Authority board wants to know more about the prospective construction contractor for the first stretch in Fresno and Madera before he votes to award a contract next month.

High-speed rail agency changed bidding standards

When the California High-Speed Rail Authority put the first stretch of its statewide train system out for bids last year, the agency set a high technical standard for five contracting teams courting the more than $1 billion construction contract.

Rail authority will start making first written offers for land between Fresno, Madera

Some property owners in Fresno and Madera counties will start receiving within days the first written offers from the California High-Speed Rail Authority to buy their land.

High-speed rail training grant boosts Valley's job hopes

Fresno leaders said Friday that a $1.5 million grant to train people for jobs building the first stage of California's high-speed rail line has the potential to "transform lives" of local residents.

High-speed rail board will hear construction bids

For the first time since contractors' bids were announced for the initial stage of high-speed rail construction in Fresno and Madera, the public and members of the California High-Speed Rail Authority board will have their opportunity to weigh in on the bids and the bidding process during a board meeting Thursday in Sacramento.

$1.5 million grant to fund job training for high-speed rail project

Unemployed Valley residents hoping to land a job on the California high-speed rail project can get special training thanks to a $1.5 million grant given to the Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board.

Farmers, state settle last lawsuit over Merced-Fresno high-speed rail line

Farming interests in Madera and Merced counties dropped their environmental lawsuit challenging the first section of the statewide high-speed rail project. The California High-Speed Rail Authority and representatives of several agricultural organizations announced the settlement Thursday afternoon after Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley signed off on it, less than 24 hours before attorneys were to argue their points in Frawley's courtroom.

Bid of Valley high-speed rail hundreds of millions below estimates

A trio of American companies outbid four other teams of contractors vying for the contract to build the first segment of California's proposed high-speed train system in the San Joaquin Valley -- and for several hundred million dollars less than state engineers estimated.

Builder contends low bid for high-speed rail in Valley realistic

The bid by contractors Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons to build the stretch of high-speed rail line in the central San Joaquin Valley was low that it prompted fears of a lowball, with the potential for change orders that could drive up the final pricetag.

Fresno rail meeting gives Valley opponents a platform

More than 200 people crammed their way into Fresno City Hall on Thursday, making the most of their chance to tell the California High-Speed Rail Authority how they feel about plans for a statewide high-speed train system and proposed routes through the San Joaquin Valley.

Rail board to present recommended routes at Fresno meeting

Engineers' recommendations for high-speed train routes around Chowchilla and Hanford will be presented Thursday when the California High-Speed Rail Authority's board meets in Fresno. The authority will also consider amending two major contracts with consultants for work in the San Joaquin Valley, increasing its consulting budget by more than $47 million. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. at Fresno City Hall.

Engineers suggest west-of-Hanford route for high-speed trains

A route that would skirt Hanford's western edge through Kings County is now the option recommended by engineers for a high-speed rail route between Fresno and Bakersfield. The California High-Speed Rail Authority announced the recommendation Tuesday.