Metra’s A-2 Crossing is likely the biggest bottleneck in the Midwest passenger rail network. A new bridge to allow trains from Union Station to “flyover” trains from Ogilvie Transportation Center is needed. Located two miles from Union Station at Western Ave. and...
Brightline West and the Nevada Department of Transportation are pursuing $3.75 billion in federal funding for its Las Vegas to Southern California high-speed rail project. A group of bipartisan elected officials from Nevada and California wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, expressing support for the grant request, and stressing the benefits high-speed rail would have for the region.
The requested funding is intended to cover about one-third of the project’s total cost, with the remaining funding coming from tax-exempt private activity bonds and private capital. This grant funding would come from the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program. If the funding is secured, construction could begin as soon as this year, with high-speed trains operating in North America by the end of the decade.
Brightline West has already made significant strides towards construction, reaching several important milestones. They have secured lease agreements for a station site on Las Vegas Boulevard, also known as “the Strip”. Additionally, they have an agreement with the California highway department for using the I-15 right-of-way, and have completed most of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation and approvals required for environmental clearance.
Furthermore, the project has a memorandum of understanding with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, and the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union, to ensure that the project is built with unionized labor.
If this grant funding is secured, Brightline West is prepared to begin construction quickly, and we could all be riding a high-speed train in North America this decade.
Learn More
Brightline’s Recent Progress and Vision for Train Travel (Video)
Lawmakers Ask Buttigieg to Fast-Track Brightline West Funding
Letter of Support from 10 Lawmakers in Nevada and California (PDF)
Nevada, California Legislators Back Federal Funding for Brightline West
Nearly $4B Grant Sought for Vegas-to-So Cal High-Speed Rail System
