ANAHEIM : Firm to Help Weigh High-Speed Rail Bids

An Anaheim engineering and consulting firm has been selected by the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission as one of five companies that will evaluate bids for building and operating a 300-m.p.h. rail system between Las Vegas and Anaheim.

Willdan Associates has been selected, along with corporations from Southern California, Nevada, Colorado and Canada.

Proposals to privately build and operate the train system are expected from Bechtel International of San Francisco, Morrison-Knudsen Co. of Boise, Idaho, and Bombardier Corp. of Canada.

The bistate commission is scheduled to choose a proposal in October.

Construction is scheduled between 1993 and 1997, although skeptics have said the train system cannot be built for the $4-billion estimated so far.

Meanwhile, the Anaheim City Council on Tuesday will discuss giving the commission $200,000. Although state law mandates that the train be privately financed, public funds may be used in developing the project.

The commission’s executive director asked the city for funding this year to help identify the most attractive contractor for the job.

Las Vegas and Clark County, Nev., are expected to give $85,000 each to the commission this year, and the Las Vegas Convention/Visitors Authority is expected to provide another $250,000.