High-Speed Rail at a Glance

Central Valley

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is continuing construction while partnering with local agencies, community members, business owners and other key stakeholders to build the nation’s first high-speed rail system.

Aerial photo of a bridge under construction
Construction worker in a harness
Bridge under construction with a crane beside it
Group of construction workers meeting at night
HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS ALREADY HAPPENING in the Central Valley, with construction now spanning 119 miles across Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties. The Authority plans to extend this 119-mile segment into Merced and Bakersfield. The 171-mile Merced-Bakersfield line will carry more riders and deliver the most mobility, environmental and economic benefits for the lowest cost. Testing of the initial electrified high-speed rail line is planned to commence in 2028.

What’s Happening

Jobs

Historically, the Central Valley’s economy has lagged behind the rest of the state. Now, investment in high-speed rail is helping to close the gap.

  • Nearly 9,000 construction jobs have been created with the help of the State Building and Construction Trades Council, the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board and other groups.
  • 30% of all project work hours are to be performed by National Targeted Workers (someone who lives within an economically distressed area, such as the Central Valley).
  • In the city of Selma, the Central Valley Training Center opened to help students prepare for careers in more than 10 different construction-industry trades and has graduated multiple cohorts already.

Clean Air

The Central Valley Basin doesn’t meet current clean-air objectives.

  • The Authority partnered with the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District as one of the means to achieve the project’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions.
  • Contractors must use Tier 4 construction equipment or equipment retrofitted to achieve comparable standards throughout the project.
  • An interagency agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is in place to plant trees through the Forestry Assistance and Urban and Community Forestry programs.

Reconnecting the State

Home to nearly seven million people, the Central Valley is one of the fastest growing regions in the state.

  • As the backbone of the State Rail Plan, high-speed rail will connect the region to the rest of California.
  • More than $6.8 billion in total construction expenditures to date.

Construction Packages & Stations

​Explore below for details on high-speed rail stations and construction packages in the Central Valley. In September 2020, the Authority’s Board of Directors approved the final environmental documents for the section referred to as the “Central Valley Wye”, providing full environmental clearance for the 171 miles of high-speed rail alignment between Merced and Bakersfield.

The Authority continues to work with local partners to develop station area plans based around proposed high-speed rail centers. The Authority executed three design-build construction contracts for the Central Valley Segment of the high-speed rail system.

Want More Information?

Find more information about high-speed rail in California. From factsheets and regional newsletters, to maps and outreach events, get on board with the most up‑to‑date program information.
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As of 2018

The California High-Speed Rail Authority makes every effort to ensure the website and its contents meet mandated ADA requirements as per the California State mandated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA standard. If you are looking for a particular document not located on the California High-Speed Rail Authority website, you may make a request for the document under the Public Records Act through the Public Records Act page. If you have any questions about the website or its contents, please contact the Authority at info@hsr.ca.gov.