In 2008 voters passed Proposition 1A, directing the Authority to construct an electrified 494-mile-long rail system connecting the megaregions of Los Angeles and San Francisco to the growing cities of the Central Valley.

The Authority is responsible for planning, designing, building, and operating the first high-speed rail (HSR) system in the nation. The California High-Speed Rail (CHSR) system will connect the megaregions of the state, contribute to economic development and a cleaner environment, create jobs, and preserve agricultural and protected lands.

On June 26, 2024, the Authority’s Board of Directors selected the SYSTRA | TYPSA Joint Venture to design the HSR track and overhead contact system (OCS) for the initial 171-mile passenger service. The SYSTRA|TYPSA Joint Venture will perform the design principles and detailed design for the track and OCS system for the 171-mile Early Operating segment (EOS) from Merced to Bakersfield.