The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved $2.5 billion for the Brightline West High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail project. As we have previously reported, the 218-mile line will connect Las Vegas to Southern California, running primarily along the I-15 median.
Electric trains on the line will be capable of reaching 186 miles per hour, fulfilling the journey in half the time to travel by car. The cost of the project currently stands at $12 billion, funded partly by an additional $3 billion allocation last month under the Infrastructure Act, and a $25 million to to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority that will be used to construct stations on the line in Hesperia and Victor Valley, California.
“As the first true high-speed rail system in America, Brightline West will serve as the blueprint for connecting cities with fast, eco-friendly passenger rail throughout the country,” said Brightline Founder and Chairman Wes Edens following the latest funding. “Connecting Las Vegas and Southern California will provide wide-spread public benefits to both states, creating thousands of jobs and jumpstarting a new level of economic competitiveness for the region. We appreciate the confidence placed in us by DOT and are ready to get to work.”
You can learn more about the project by following our previous coverage here.
2 Comments
This is such a smart and sensible project that I'm having a hard time believing we in the US can actually accomplish it! </cynicism>
In 1890 the US was 25% Urbanized almost 300 years after first European Colonies established in US NE and E. Today US 80% Urbanized. In Comparison China 20% urbanized in 1980 and today 63% urbanized. In 1915 only 16% of US adults had graduated high school . In 1945 less than 3% of US adults above 25 had graduated college .Today more than 80% have graduated high school and more than 33% have graduated college . Illinois first state to License Architects in 1897 . Most of US development has happened in the last 100 years .So its possible to build high speed rail.
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