Courtesy
A Brightline train rendering
Published Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 | 9:23 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 | 9:25 p.m.
The Brightline West high-speed rail project linking Las Vegas to Southern California along the Interstate 15 corridor is getting a $3 billion boost from the federal government.
The grant funding announced Tuesday clears the way for the long-anticipated commuter project to soon break ground, though it’s not yet clear when that may be. Nevada Democratic U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, however, told reporters during a media call Tuesday that the project was “shovel ready,” station land had already been secured, design and engineering work had been prepared and union labor agreements were in place for construction.
The hope is to complete the project in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Rosen said.
“This is a game-changer for Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, and for our entire state,” Rosen said, “It will boost our economy by bringing more visitors. This means more people spending their money at Nevada’s hotels, restaurants, casinos, small businesses and events in our state.”
The funding was sourced from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Announcement of the grant award comes months after lawmakers from Nevada and California urged the U.S. Department of Transportation for final approval.
In a statement, Brightline founder Wes Edens said the company was “honored and humbled” in the confidence the Biden administration, Rosen and other stakeholders had shown in bringing a “true high-speed rail to America.”
“This is a historic moment that will serve as a foundation for a new industry, and a remarkable project that will serve as the blueprint for how we can repeat this model throughout the country,” Edens said in the statement. “We’re ready to get to work to bring our vision of American-made, American-built, world-class, state-of-the-art high-speed train travel to America.”
Brightline West proposes a 218-mile system on a route that would run alongside I-15 and have rail stations in Las Vegas and in Rancho Cucamonga, Hesperia and Apple Valley in Southern California.
The Nevada Department of Transportation in March applied for federal grant funding on behalf of Brightline and with the support of the entire Nevada congressional delegation and four California congressional representatives.
Proponents, including Rosen, say the railway will be a boon for tourism between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles metro area and could remove up to 3 million cars from I-15 annually, as well as create 35,000 union jobs throughout the project’s life.
“Think about what the future will look like once this project is complete: Visitors to our state, millions of them who will visit each year, will have the ability to get on a train in Southern California, enjoy a cocktail, enjoy a meal, all while traveling directly and quickly to Las Vegas,” Rosen said. “Doesn’t that sound a whole lot better than the current option of sitting in traffic for several hours on the I-15?”
MGM Resorts International, Nevada’s largest private employer, also praised Tuesday’s news, with CEO Bill Hornbuckle saying it will help Las Vegas appeal to even more tourists.
“This is a huge win for Las Vegas, our economy and the travel and tourism industry,” Hornbuckle said in a statement in which he also thanked the Biden administration and Nevada’s congressional delegation. “This project will not only help alleviate bottlenecks and delays along I-15, but also open Las Vegas to an even wider group of visitors looking to enjoy all we have to offer.”
Backups on I-15 can often span for miles near the Nevada-California border, particularly on weekends and holidays when many Californians travel to and from Las Vegas.
Brightline says on its website each train will be all-electric and travel at speeds in excess of 186 miles per hour, meaning it can complete the 218-mile trek in just 2 hours and 10 minutes — twice as fast as the normal drive time. The carrier expects to transport 11 million passengers a year on the route. Brightline West says it has yet to determine how many trains it will operate, but its Florida system operates trains hourly.
Brightline notes that its Las Vegas station, set for Las Vegas Boulevard between Warm Springs Road and Blue Diamond Road, will be the route’s flagship station.
“This announcement jump-starts this project in a big way and really is cause for celebration,” said Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft, whose district will include the Brighline West station. “It’s exciting because it demonstrates a commitment to finally making this efficient transportation alternative a reality. And it comes at a time when the trajectory for Las Vegas tourism really demands additional modes of transportation here.”
The Associated Press reported in April that about 70% of the $12 billion project will be privately funded, using a combination of debt and equity.
Brightline West has already received $1 billion in private activity bonds from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Plans to build a bullet train to link the valley with the Los Angeles area date to at least 2005 under various project iterations, according to the AP. Amtrak passenger service ended its Desert Wind route, which included stops in Las Vegas, from Chicago to Los Angeles, in 1997.
“As far back as 2001, I’ve been advocating to bring a true high-speed rail system to Southern Nevada, and I am thrilled that this funding will allow Brightline West and the Nevada Department of Transportation to do just that,” Nevada Democratic U.S. Rep. Dina Titus said in a statement.
Nevada U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, also a Democrat, said she was optimistic the project would significantly cut down on traffic on I-15 while also boosting tourism for both regions.
“Bringing high-speed rail to Southern Nevada just makes sense, given the tens of millions of visitors we have each year,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. “I will keep working to ensure Nevada is getting the resources we need to make transportation easier and cleaner for Nevada families.”
A media event to provide more details about the project is scheduled for Friday in Las Vegas, Rosen said. A date and time from her office were not yet given.
Vince Saavedra, executive secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union, was quoted in the release from Titus’ office as saying workers from his union and allied groups are “standing at the ready” to get to work on the project.
“This is a momentous day for the workers of Southern Nevada, specifically members of the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union, as we announce our partnership with Brightline West and the California Building Trades to create our country’s first true high-speed rail system,” Saavedra said. “Nevada was built on the backs of our labor union members, and this historic rail project will continue that legacy.”
