The California High Speed Rail Authority has chosen an AECOM led joint venture to deliver the California High Speed Rail programme, an effort to build the first electrified high speed rail line in the United States. The California High Speed Rail programme is intended to connect cities across California with frequent services of high speed trains exceeding 200 miles per hour (322 kpmh).

The AECOM-led joint venture will utilise AECOM’s experience with high-speed rail programme across the world to deliver programme as well as securing California’s aims to secure further benefits from the programme in mobility, environmental, social and economic benefits that are statewide.

The programme is currently under active construction and advanced design in California along 171 miles between the cities of Merced and Bakersfield. To date the project has created more than 9,000 labour jobs.

When complete, California High-Speed Rail will connect the 500-mile stretch between the Los Angeles region with the San Francisco Bay Area in less than three hours, The high-speed rail system is expected to expand access to job opportunities, contribute to a cleaner environment, reduce traffic and air congestion, improve the state’s transportation system resiliency, and preserve agricultural and protected lands. For more on construction visit: www.buildhsr.com.

“We look forward to working with the Authority to help deliver this important investment that is poised to be one of the most transformative infrastructure programmes in US history,” said Lara Poloni, AECOM’s president. “The California High-Speed Rail programme is world-class, epitomising the positive impacts we’re generating through our Sustainable Legacies strategy. The programme’s foundational environmental and social purpose will help drive sustainable mobility across the state while providing a safer, more reliable option that meets California’s twenty-first-century transportation needs.”

The joint venture is expected to implement an operating model that facilitates the successful delivery of a full array of programme delivery services in support of the High Speed Rail Authority, such as programme planning and strategy; environmental and engineering management; infrastructure delivery; supply chain management; and federal and state funding support.

“The Authority is not just advancing a major rail project, but creating a new way of travel in the US that is faster, more convenient and more sustainable,” said Jennifer Aument, chief executive of AECOM’s global Transportation business. “Driving that change is hard work, and we are committed to working every day to support the Authority in making this transformational programme a reality. Our approach is to couple our leading, global expertise in delivering complex high-speed rail programmes with a local team with deep roots in and a strong commitment to California communities.”

“Our comprehensive programme management approach has been refined from our work on complex mega-programmes around the world,” said Drew Jeter, chief executive of AECOM’s global Program Management business. “Applying this deep, collaborative expertise, we will implement consistent governance and processes supported by advanced digital tools that consolidate programme data in real-time, providing the Authority with the structure and insights needed to see the programme to its successful completion.”