The decision gives the consortium the authority to implement all aspects of the design-build contract, including design and construction of 18.5km of tracks, stations, crossings, bridges, utilities, and maintenance facilities. Work is expected to begin in the third quarter and the project is due to be completed in 2015.
Full notice to proceed could only be granted after the project had been fully-funded, and this was subject to two conditions: abandonment of the BNSF Railway alignment west of Irwindale, which was completed in February, and full control over more than 50% of the land needed for the project's 9.7-hectare maintenance facility, which was met late last month.