Billion Dollar Grant To Speed Up Brightline’s West Coast High Speed Rail

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has received $3 billion in funding from the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program, specifically for Brightline West. The zero-emission Brightline West, a sister company to Florida’s Brightline, will connect Las Vegas and Southern California and will be the country’s first true high-speed rail system. President Joe Biden was on hand for the official announcement.

The 218-mile passenger rail service will reach speeds of up to 200 mph. It will feature three full-service train stations in Las Vegas, Victor Valley, and Rancho Cucamonga, California. The trip between Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga will take about two hours, twice as fast as the normal drive time.

The Las Vegas station will include easy access to the Las Vegas Strip, the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium, and the Las Vegas Convention Center. Both California stations will offer direct connectivity via California Metrolink to key points in Los Angeles, such as Union Station.

Brightline West is expected to break ground in 2024, with a start date timed to coincide with the 2028 Olympics.