Exciting news for anyone who’s been stuck in traffic between Los Angeles and Las Vegas: a new high-speed rail is on the way, promising to turn a grueling four-hour drive into a swift, scenic two-hour ride. The project, spearheaded by rail company Brightline, recently broke ground and is creating quite the buzz. The $12 billion initiative aims to link Rancho Cucamonga, California, with the bright lights of Las Vegas, cruising through 218 miles of the Mojave Desert.
“People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at an event at the future site of a terminal that will be constructed south of the Las Vegas Strip. “It’s really happening this time.”
Dubbed Brightline West, this high-speed rail is set to hustle at an average speed of 115 mph, with bursts up to nearly 200 mph, aligning it with some of the fastest trains around the globe, according to CNBC. Imagine zipping through desert landscapes at speeds that rival those of international bullet trains—it’s poised to revolutionize travel between these two bustling locales.
But the perks of this project extend beyond just slashing travel times. It’s expected to inject a whopping $10 billion into the local economies and generate over 35,000 jobs in California and Nevada while it’s being built. Thanks to a hefty $3 billion boost from federal infrastructure funds and permission to raise an additional $2.5 billion through tax-exempt bonds, Brightline is on track to make this vision a reality. They even got the nod four years back to issue $1 billion in similar bonds.
“Through this visionary partnership, we are going to create thousands of jobs, bring critical transportation infrastructure to the West, and create an innovative, fast, and sustainable transportation solution,” Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo said in a statement.
Local officials are also rooting for the high-speed train to ease the notorious traffic jams on I-15, a common headache for travelers returning to Southern California from Vegas weekends. By offering a high-speed alternative, Brightline aims to clear up some of that congestion, making the journey less of a hassle and more of an adventure.
And the timing couldn’t be better—Brightline plans to have the trains up and running in four years, just in time for Los Angeles to host the Summer Olympics. That means visitors could potentially hop aboard in LA and find themselves in Vegas in time for dinner, without the stress of traffic or airport security. So, whether you’re in it for the speed, the convenience, or the economic benefits, the Brightline West is a project that promises to bring a little more zip to the West Coast travel scene.
