The California High-Speed Rail Authority has launched a process to attract private investment partners and developers by summer 2026, aiming to speed construction and broaden funding for “the nation’s first true high-speed rail” network.
Why It Matters
The push represents a step toward expanding funding and speeding construction on one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, which has faced delays and rising construction costs.
What To Know
The Authority announced on December 23 that it has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a Co-Development Agreement (CDA), which will select a private partner to help invest in and deliver the high-speed rail system.
The new RFQ seeks to to attract private investment to help deliver the rail system more efficiently, a release from the Authority said. The selected private partner will help evaluate opportunities to invest in the project and commercialize assets, such as station facilities, track access, fiber, power, and real estate, according to the news release.
The announcement follows a June 2025 Request for Expression of Interest, which the agency said provided feedback about how public-private partnerships could help move the project forward.
The new solicitation also comes after a call last month for industry bids to install electrified track and related systems.
Currently, 171 miles of the system—from Merced to Bakersfield—are under design or construction. The Authority said nearly 80 miles of guideway and 60 major structures have been completed, with more than 30 additional structures underway in Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties.
Across the state, 463 miles of the 494-mile route from San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim have received full environmental clearance and are ready for construction, the Authority says.
Since construction began, the project has created nearly 16,400 jobs, most filled by Central Valley residents, with about 1,700 workers on construction sites each day, officials say.
What People Are Saying
Authority CEO Ian Choudri said in a news release: “Interest from the private sector in investing in California’s high-speed rail project is strong and continues to grow. Today’s procurement formalizes efforts to partner with private investors and developers, with the shared goal of delivering California’s transformational program faster, smarter, and more economically.
“By leveraging private sector innovation and best practices against strong, stable state funding, we can maximize the value of California’s investment and accelerate delivery of high-speed infrastructure throughout the state.”
What Happens Next
The process seeks to bring private investors and developers to the Authority by summer 2026.