The US Surface Transportation Board has authorised the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to start building a 114-mile high-speed passenger rail line between Fresno and Bakersfield.

The new line would connect stations in Fresno, Bakersfield and a Kings/Tulare regional station in the Anford/Visalia/Tulare area.

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The line will be the second segment of the planned state-wide California high-speed train system, which would provide high-speed intercity passenger rail service over more than 800 miles throughout the state.

Upon completion, the complete rail system would connect Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, the eastern region of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Orange County and San Diego.

"Partnering with Arcadis will help provide California with a high-speed rail system that is worthy of our state."

The authorisation is subject to environmental mitigation conditions, including a condition that CHSRA build the route designated by the US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as environmentally preferable and comply with mitigation imposed by FRA, as well as three additional environmental conditions.

CHSRA has also awarded a contract for design and construction supervision services on construction package 2-3 (CP 2-3) to the US subsidiary of Arcadis.

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The CP 2-3 covers the 60-mile stretch of the initial operating section between East America Avenue south of Fresno and the border between Kern and Tulare counties.

Under the agreed upon contract, Arcadis could receive approximately $71.86m based on actual work performed over a period of roughly five years.

CHSRA CEO Jeff Morales said: "Partnering with Arcadis will help provide California with a high-speed rail system that is worthy of our state.

"Their experience, expertise and employment opportunities will be a tremendous asset to the high-speed rail programme and the Central Valley."

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