The Merced to Fresno project section is part of the first phase of the California high-speed rail system connecting the communities of Merced, Madera and Fresno to the rest of the State.

The approximately 65-mile project section will provide essential connections between the Central Valley and the Silicon Valley with stations in downtown Fresno and downtown Merced. These station locations will help provide new economic opportunities in these downtown areas and provide easy connections to local and regional businesses and academic institutions.

The Central Valley Wye, located near the City of Chowchilla, will serve as the junction for the high-speed rail system connecting San Jose to Fresno, San Jose to Merced, and Merced to Fresno. These connections allow travelers to reach destinations in the direction of San Francisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. The Central Valley Wye is located in the Merced to Fresno Project Section.

The Fresno to Bakersfield project section is part of the first phase of the California high-speed rail system connecting the cities of Fresno and Bakersfield to the rest of the state.

The approximately 114-mile project section will provide essential connections between the Central Valley, the Silicon Valley and the Los Angeles Basin with stations in downtown Fresno and downtown Bakersfield. These station locations will help provide new economic opportunities in these downtown areas and provide easy connections to local and regional businesses and academic institutions.

The Locally Generated Alternative is located between the cities of Shafter and Bakersfield in the Central Valley and has been developed in cooperation with the City of Bakersfield, the City of Shafter, and Kern County.  It is approximately 23 miles long, includes a station option located at F Street and Golden State Avenue (State Route 204) and parallels existing railroad corridors within the Fresno to Bakersfield project section.

• Pursue an aerial multi-modal hub station located adjacent to State Route 99, the Union Pacific Railroad Line and the Merced Transpo between R and O streets
• Serves downtown Merced, UC Merced, Merced County and the upper Central Valley

• Located on Ave. 12 in Madera
• Serves Madera County and Northern Fresno County
• Station to be provided by third parties

• Located in downtown area on H Street between Fresno and Tulare streets
• Serves downtown Fresno, Fresno and Madera counties

• Located near the intersection of State Routes 198 and 43
• Serves Hanford, Visalia and Lemoore

• Project area is generally bounded by F Street to the west, 38th Street to the north, Union Avenue to the east and California Avenue to the south
• Vision Plan is intended to benefit the entire community—adoption of the plan will help streamline future downtown development
• Serves Bakersfield and Kern County

32 miles

Design-builder: Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons

• Segment stretches between Avenue 19 in Madera County and East American Avenue in Fresno County.
• Includes 12 grade separations, four viaducts, a trench that will take trains under State Route 180, a major river crossing over the San Joaquin River and a pergola structure spanning the Union Pacific Railroad in north Fresno.

65 miles

Design-builder: Dragados-Flatiron Joint Venture

• Segment is a corridor between East American Avenue in Fresno County and one mile north of the Tulare-Kern County line.
• Includes 36 grade separations within the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kings, including viaducts, underpasses and overpasses.

22 miles

Design-builder: California Rail Builders

• Segment stretches between one mile north of the Tulare-Kern County line and Poplar Avenue in Kern County.
• Includes construction of at-grade embankments, retained fill overcrossings and viaducts.