Construction has officially commenced on a new $12 billion train project set to shuttle passengers between Las Vegas and Los Angeles in under two hours by the end of the decade. This groundbreaking high-speed rail initiative, the first of its kind in the United States, aims to slash travel time and reduce greenhouse gas emissions typically emitted by cars and planes. The project, spearheaded by Brightline and supported by a $3 billion federal grant from the 2021 bipartisan Infrastructure law, marks a significant step forward in American rail transportation.
Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, alongside other Biden Administration officials, marked the occasion with a groundbreaking ceremony on Earth Day. Buttigieg hailed the event as a pivotal moment in shaping the future of American rail, emphasizing the creation of thousands of union jobs, enhanced economic opportunities, reduced road congestion, and decreased air pollution. Brightline’s ambitious plan includes trains departing every 40 minutes from stations near the Vegas strip and Rancho Cucamonga in LA, traveling at speeds of up to 186 miles per hour, rivalling Japan’s renowned bullet trains.
