Senator Jacky Rosen proudly announced the securing of $3 billion in funding to kickstart the construction of the high-speed rail project connecting Las Vegas to Southern California. The funding, sourced from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is set to propel the Brightline West high-speed rail system into action.
Anticipated benefits of the project include boosting Southern Nevada’s tourism economy and alleviating congestion on the Interstate 15 corridor. Brightline West estimates that the high-speed rail will annually remove 3 million cars from I-15, leading to a reduction of over 400,000 tons of carbon emissions and the creation of 35,000 well-paying union jobs.
Senator Rosen emphasized the transformative impact of the historic high-speed rail, predicting positive outcomes for Nevada’s tourism, job market, and environmental footprint. She expressed pride in advocating for the critical funding required to turn the long-envisioned high-speed rail into a reality.
Wes Edens, the founder and chairman of Brightline, conveyed gratitude for the confidence placed in their vision by President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg, Senator Rosen, and others. Edens highlighted the historic significance of the moment, envisioning the project as a blueprint for future high-speed rail endeavors across the country. He expressed readiness to bring their vision of American-made, American-built, world-class, state-of-the-art high-speed train travel to the United States.