High-speed rail line linking Las Vegas and Los Angeles area gets $3B Biden administration pledge

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The Biden administration has committed $3 billion on Tuesday to a high-speed rail project connecting Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area, as announced by Nevada officials. This $12 billion initiative, spearheaded by Brightline West, is set to commence construction along a 218-mile stretch adjacent to Interstate 15. This project, which has been in discussion for years, has secured all necessary right-of-way and environmental permits, as well as labor agreements, according to U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen.

Although a specific start date for construction has not been set, Rosen anticipates that by the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, electric-powered trains will be operational for passenger service. Wes Edens, the founder and chairman of Brightline, headquartered in Florida, expressed eagerness to begin work, coinciding with an event in Las Vegas that may align with President Joe Biden’s visit.

A bipartisan coalition led by Senators Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, both Democrats, has actively lobbied President Biden for up to $3.75 billion from federal infrastructure funds for this public-private venture. The proposed rail service, with trains reaching speeds close to 200 mph, aims to reduce the current four-hour road journey from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga in suburban Los Angeles. The new route is expected to ease the frequent traffic congestion experienced during peak travel times on Interstate 15 at the Nevada-California border.

Senator Cortez Masto highlighted the project’s benefits, including substantial job creation, tourism growth in Southern Nevada, and traffic reduction on I-15. The concept of a high-speed rail line through the Mojave Desert to Las Vegas dates back to at least 2001, as noted by U.S. Representative Dina Titus. Despite previous hurdles and name changes, the project, which was stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now gaining momentum.

Brightline Holdings LLC, a Florida-based firm that operates the only privately-owned and managed intercity passenger railway in the U.S., is expected to use its Florida East Coast service, launched in 2014, as a model. This service currently connects Miami and Orlando with trains reaching speeds of up to 125 mph. Other regions contemplating high-speed rail include a 240-mile route in Texas between Dallas and Houston, and a 500-mile system linking Los Angeles and San Francisco, which has been facing cost overruns and various delays.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about High-speed rail Las Vegas-Los Angeles

More about High-speed rail Las Vegas-Los Angeles

• Biden Administration’s Infrastructure Investment
• Brightline West High-Speed Rail Project
• Impact of High-Speed Rail on Traffic and Tourism
• High-Speed Rail Developments in the U.S.