California High-Speed Rail Authority awards project oversight contract

The California High-Speed Rail Authority's board has chosen PGH Wong Engineering Inc. and Harris & Associates to provide additional oversight and management of contractors that will build the initial 30-mile stretch of high-speed rail from Madera to Fresno, the authority announced on Friday.

Wong-Harris will oversee contractors that will be selected to design and construct the 30-mile segment, and provide extra oversight of inspection and testing, construction safety and security, technical and environmental compliance document control, and public outreach, authority officials said in a prepared statement.

Under the contract, Wong-Harris would receive up to $34.9 million based on the actual work performed.

The firms have agreed that 30 percent of the work will be performed by small businesses and more than 50 percent of it will be located in the Central Valley, authority officials said.

PGH Wong is an engineering firm that specializes in construction management project management and design of rail projects; Harris & Associates provides project construction management, program management, engineering and municipal services.