California High-Speed Rail Construction Package 1 — Fresno, California
Client
- California High-Speed Rail Authority
Project Value 
$3,948,835,272
Market
Rail, Transportation
Services
Design
We serve as the lead designer for Construction Package 1 (CP-1), the first significant design-build construction contract executed by the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Originally spanning 29 miles from Avenue 17 in Madera County to East American Avenue in Fresno County, the project scope was later extended an additional 2.6 miles north to Avenue 19. Work includes utility relocations, roadway and street modifications, grading and drainage, and the design of more than 60 major structures.
We designed over 3.5 miles of high-speed rail and roadway viaducts, a cut-and-cover box under SR-180, 1.6 miles of trench structures, more than 75,000 linear feet of intrusion protection barriers, retaining walls, culverts, animal crossings, and more. We also coordinated with multiple stakeholders and permitting agencies to deliver environmentally compliant and technically complex infrastructure in support of California’s first high-speed rail system.
Scope Of Work
Our scope includes design and construction services as part of a design-build joint venture. Design packages were advanced simultaneously across six geographic segments. This was done using a matrix structure of segment teams supported by discipline-wide leads. The team worked closely with key third parties, including Caltrans, UPRR, BNSF, and local utilities. This collaboration helped to meet tight budget and schedule demands. Parsons also managed environmental compliance for nearly 1,400 mitigation measures and permit conditions. We worked with agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Innovative methods, such as 3D modeling to identify cost-saving design alternatives, allowed the team to streamline trench structures, optimize embankments, and replace high-maintenance steel trusses with long-lasting concrete arches. These efforts reduced construction time and costs while improving system maintainability.
Project Impact
- Delivered more than 60 structures including viaducts, underpasses, and bridges
- Reduced Fresno Trench length by 3,000 feet, generating significant savings
- Implemented standard design details to improve quality and reduce design effort
- Optimized Fresno River Viaduct by replacing 900 feet of aerial structure with embankment
- Eliminated 2,500 feet of the Cedar Viaduct and replaced multiple truss bridges with concrete arches
- Balanced earthwork through strategic use of available right-of-way
- Ensured compliance with environmental and mitigation requirements on a high-profile statewide project
Our leadership in design and environmental management helped establish CP-1 as a model for future high-speed rail development in California and beyond.
