Brightline West on Sept. 26 reported that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has officially signed the $3 billion grant agreement awarded in December 2023 for its 218-mile high-speed rail project linking Nevada and Southern California, which is expected to cost $12 billion and open for service in 2028.
“This is a historic commitment that will jumpstart the high-speed rail industry in America, creating thousands of jobs all across the country,” Brightline CEO Michael Reininger said. “Brightline West will be American made and American built, and will serve as the blueprint for connecting city pairs that are too close to fly but too far to drive.”
In December 2023, Brightline West, in partnership with project sponsor Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), was awarded the FRA grant through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant program. Additionally, in June 2023 the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority received a $25 million RAISE program grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to fund the final design and construction of two Brightline West stations and associated facilities in Hesperia and San Bernardino County. The rest of the project will be privately funded, according to Brightline West, which has received a total allocation of $3.5 billion in private activity bonds from the USDOT.
The Brightline West route, which has full environmental clearance, will run primarily within the I-15 highway median and offer stops in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (see map below). Austin, Tex.-based Atlas Technical Consultants Inc. has been selected among a team of consultants to manage geotechnical engineering and design for the project, which broke ground on April 22. It is expected to create more than 35,000 jobs, including 10,000-plus union construction jobs. Once operational, the project will include approximately 1,000 jobs. Brightline has signed labor agreements with the California and Southern Nevada Building Trades to construct the project and the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition to operate and maintain the system.
Siemens Mobility has been designated as the preferred bidder to supply 10 seven-car “American Pioneer 220” electric trainsets capable of speeds up to 220 mph—cutting the Las Vegas-Southern California trip to two hours or half the time to travel by car. It announced earlier this month that it is building a new plant in Horseheads, N.Y. to manufacture the trainsets. Described as “North America’s first true high-speed rail production facility,” the new, 300,000-square-foot plant represents an approximately $60 million investment and is expected to employ 300 workers, many of whom will be represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
“USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg and I have repeatedly said Americans should not need to look abroad to see high-speed rail,” FRA Administrator Amit Bose said. “Thanks to the hard work of the Biden-Harris Administration and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s [also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act] historic funding, we will finally experience high-speed rail on U.S. soil. FRA is proud to partner with Nevada and California state leaders and Brightline West to advance this transformative project connecting Las Vegas and Southern California, and this week’s finalized grant agreement is a major step forward to deliver high-speed service that results in faster trips, fewer emissions, union jobs, and an alternative to highway and airport congestion.”
“This $3 billion federal investment is a transformative step forward in shaping the future of Nevada’s transportation; with this funding, we’re closer than ever to making high-speed rail a reality—offering a fast, sustainable alternative to car travel between Las Vegas and Southern California,” Nevada Department of Transportation Director Tracy Larkin Thomason said. “This project will stimulate economic growth and create jobs, providing lasting benefits for both our state and the region.”
