Sacramento, California — The California High-Speed Rail Authority has launched a formal procurement process aimed at attracting private investors and developers, marking a significant step toward accelerating delivery of the nation’s first true high-speed rail system.
Under the initiative, the Authority issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a Co-Development Agreement (CDA), seeking to bring a private partner consortium on board by summer 2026. The California High-Speed Rail private investment strategy is designed to evaluate opportunities to deliver the project faster and more efficiently while commercializing project assets at the earliest possible stage.
The CDA framework will allow a selected private partner to assess and potentially invest in assets such as station facilities, track access, fiber infrastructure, power systems, real estate and related developments, supporting future high-speed rail segment delivery across the state.
“Interest from the private sector in investing in California’s high-speed rail project is strong and continues to grow,” said Ian Choudri, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. “This procurement formalizes our efforts to partner with private investors and developers with the shared goal of delivering California’s transformational program faster, smarter and more economically.”
The California High-Speed Rail private investment solicitation builds on insights gathered from the Authority’s June 2025 Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI), which generated extensive industry feedback on public-private partnership models and innovative approaches to project delivery.
The announcement follows the Authority’s recent invitation to industry to bid on electrified track and systems, signaling a broader push to advance construction while opening new avenues for private-sector participation.
Details on the CDA procurement process and timeline are available at:
🔗 https://hsr.ca.gov/business-opportunities/procurements/architectural-engineering-and-capital-contracts/co-development-agreement-request-for-qualifications/
High-Speed Rail Project Progress
Construction and design work continues across the Central Valley, with 171 miles currently under design or construction between Merced and Bakersfield. To date, nearly 80 miles of guideway have been completed, alongside almost 60 fully completed major structures, with more than 30 additional structures under construction across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
Statewide, the project has achieved significant regulatory progress, with 463 miles of the planned 494-mile San Francisco–Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction-ready.
Since construction began, the project has generated nearly 16,400 jobs, the majority filled by Central Valley residents, with up to 1,700 workers active on construction sites daily.
The California High-Speed Rail private investment initiative is expected to play a central role in accelerating delivery, maximizing taxpayer value and advancing high-speed rail infrastructure across the state.
