The Nevada Department of Transportation will receive $3 billion in federal funds for Brightline West to connect Las Vegas and Southern California with a high-speed rail system.
President Joe Biden joined elected officials from both states earlier this month to announce the funding from the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program.
"This innovative infrastructure project from Brightline West is going to transform our state and region," Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo said. "The historic federal funding announced today is a critical piece of this project and the future of transportation in the West."
Brightline West's 218-mile, fully electric, zero-emission passenger rail service, on a dedicated line to be built in Interstate 15's median, will reach speeds up to 200 mph. The system will feature three stations: one in Las Vegas, and one each in Victor Valley and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
The Las Vegas station, on 110 acres at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard, will include easy access to rideshares, taxis and public transportation to the Las Vegas Strip, Allegiant Stadium and the Las Vegas Convention Center. The California stations will include connections via California Metrolink to key points in Los Angeles.
"This is a big and important step toward making high-speed rail between Los Angeles and Las Vegas a reality," said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "It will offer an exciting, fun experience for our largest visitor base vital to our tourism economy."
L.A. to the Strip in three hours
Travel from Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas will take about two hours and 10 minutes, according to a Brightline West fact sheet. Including a connection from downtown Los Angeles to Rancho Cucamonga via Metrolink, the total trip time to Las Vegas will take about three hours. Travel from Apple Valley to Las Vegas will take about 90 minutes.
Ticket prices will be determined closer to the start of operations but can be expected to be priced on par with the cost of gasoline and typical parking fees. Brightline West will offer food, beverages, and cocktail service in stations and aboard the trains.
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No timeline for construction was announced, but the project is expected to take four years to build and total $12 billion. Brightline West has agreements with several unions to use union labor in construction, operations and maintenance jobs.
Brightline operates a passenger rail system in South Florida, which connects central and south Florida with stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando.