Plans for California high speed rail system move forward

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has put out a call for firms to handle engineering and surveying for its prospective route from Fresno to Bakersfield.

The Fresno Bee reports the agency issued a request last week for companies to submit their qualifications in anticipation of awarding a contract of up to $1.5 million.

The newspaper says the winning company or companies will set up the proposed route between American Avenue, at the south end of Fresno, and the northwestern outskirts of Bakersfield.

Companies must submit their statements of qualifications by Aug. 15.

Last month the agency won approval from a federal railroad oversight board to start construction this summer on the first leg of the bullet train.

But a lawsuit pending in Sacramento County Superior Court says the current project is substantially different than what voters approved.