Three More High-Speed Train Regions On Track for Final Environmental Review.

Authority Board Selects Contractors for LA to San Diego and Palmdale, Fresno, Sacramento Segments

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- At its monthly meeting today, the High-Speed Rail Authority Board approved the selection of three environmental/engineering teams that will lead and complete the environmental analyses and preliminary engineering for high-speed train regional lines from Sacramento to Fresno; Fresno to Palmdale; and Los Angeles to San Diego.

"These regional teams join two others charged with ensuring that the environmental clearance and permitting is completed along regional segments, continuing the engineering analysis and keeping the project moving forward," said Judge Quentin L. Kopp, Chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

"With the majority of our regional teams in place, the project is in a better position than it ever has been to collaborate with regional planners to ensure that the high-speed train project delivers on the more immediate and local benefits for which it is designed."

Depending on results of the Bay Area to Central Valley program-level environmental analysis now underway, the total number of segment -- or "project-level" -- environmental and engineering teams needed for the high-speed train system could be between six and eight. Two segment teams were selected by the Authority Board last December -- for the Los Angeles to Orange County; and Los Angeles to Palmdale segments. All regional teams are under the direction of the Authority's Program Manager, Parson's Brinckerhoff. The contractors approved today are:

Sacramento to Fresno: DMJM Harris -- a national leader in the planning and design of rail, transit and intermodal projects. The firm employs over 2,000 professional and technical staff and provides a full range of transportation services from concept through implementation.

Fresno to Palmdale: URS/Hatch Mott MacDonald/Arup -- URS is a global provider of planning, environmental, design, engineering, project management, and construction services. URS staff brings local, hands-on knowledge of communities and conditions in the Central Valley and Antelope Valley.

Hatch Mott MacDonald has more than 50 years of experience in North America and is a world leader in planning, design, and construction supervision of major high-speed rail and tunneling projects including the Taiwan High-Speed Rail Project and the Channel Tunnel.

Arup is a world leader in the design of high-speed rail systems, including the Channel Tunnel and high-speed rail stations in Lille, France and Florence, Italy.

Los Angeles to San Diego: HNTB -- a national transportation firm with more than 90 years transportation experience. HNTB is a leader in complex rail and transit planning, design and construction management services, including bridges, aviation, architecture and urban design. The firm leads high-speed rail planning and engineering projects in the Midwest and Florida as well as previous engineering and environmental studies for the California High-Speed Rail Authority's Program-level environmental analysis.