California High-Speed Rail solicits industry to bring private partner consortium on board by summer 2026
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:The California High-Speed Rail Authority is launching a process to attract private investors and developers by summer 2026 to begin the process of delivering high-speed rail faster, smarter and more economically. This action follows a separate Authority procurement last month to select a contractor to begin laying electrified high-speed track and systems within the next year.
December 25, 2025 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On December 19, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) 
initiated a process to bring private investors and developers to the Authority by summer 2026 in an effort to deliver the nation’s first true high-speed rail project faster, smarter, and evaluate new strategies to commercialize assets through private investment at the earliest possible opportunity, supporting future high-speed rail segment delivery.
The Authority’s issuance of a Request for Qualifications for a Co-Development Agreement (CDA) is aimed at selecting a private partner to evaluate opportunities to invest and deliver the project faster and more efficiently, while commercializing assets (e.g. station facilities, track access, fiber, power, real estate, and others) at the earliest possible opportunity.
“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," said Ian Choudri, Authority CEO.
This recent solicitation is informed in part by the Authority’s June 2025 Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI), which yielded valuable feedback about the potential for public private partnerships and driving creative solutions to more efficiently deliver the nation’s first high-speed rail project.
This solicitation follows last month’s invitation to industry to bid on laying electrified track and systems.
For more information on the CDA procurement, and to view the latest schedule, visit: https://hsr.ca.gov/business-opportunities/procurements/architectural-engineering-and-capital-contracts/co-development-agreement-request-for-qualifications/
High-Speed Rail Progress
Work continues daily on the high-speed rail project, with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield. Nearly 80 miles of guideway are complete, along with nearly 60 fully completed major structures, and more than 30 more structures underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
The project continues to advance statewide, with 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction ready.
Since construction began, the project has created nearly 16,400 good-paying jobs—most filled by Central Valley residents. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.
For the latest on high-speed rail construction, visit www.buildhsr.com
Source: CA. HSR
