Cortez Masto, Rosen Join Biden To Announce $12 Billion Brightline High Speed Rail

Today, President Biden will be landing at Harry Reid airport and will be joined by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen to announce the $12 billion, 260 mile, electrified high speed rail from Brightline West which will connect Southern California (Rancho Cucamonga) to Las Vegas through the 1-15 corridor.

The end-to-end travel time between Rancho Cucamonga and Las Vegas will be about 2 hours 15 minutes with travel speeds of up to 220 mph and is estimated to remove 3 million cars from I-15 annually, serve 11 million passengers, reduce more than 400,000 tons of carbon emissions each year, and create 35,000 “good-paying union jobs.” he system is expected to create over 1,000 permanent jobs once operational.

I'm joining @POTUS and @SenJackyRosen to announce @GoBrightline will be building a new high-speed rail in Las Vegas that will create 35,000 good-paying, union jobs.

This is why we worked so hard to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — to deliver for working families. https://t.co/J8n3eau4xF

— Senator Cortez Masto (@SenCortezMasto) December 8, 2023

In a statement released by the Whitehouse, the administration highlights that investing $66 billion in rail infrastructure as a key pillar of Bidenomics, with $8.2 billion invested in 10 major passenger rail projects across the country. $3 billion of the $8.2 billion has been dedicated to Brightline West’s construction.

Investing in America Agenda – a key pillar of Bidenomics – is delivering world class-infrastructure across the country, expanding access to economic opportunity, and creating good-paying jobs. By delivering $66 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak 50 years ago – President Biden is delivering on his vision to rebuild America and win the global competition for the 21^st century.

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing $8.2 billion in new funding for 10 major passenger rail projects across the country, including the first world-class high-speed rail projects in our country’s history.

The Biden-Harris Administration is building out a pipeline of passenger rail projects in every region of the country in order to achieve the President’s vision of world-class passenger rail. Announced projects will add new passenger rail service to cities that have historically lacked access to America’s rail network, connecting residents to jobs, healthcare, and educational opportunities. Investments will repair aging rail infrastructure to increase train speeds, reduce delays, benefit freight rail supply chains to boost America’s economy, significantly reduce greenhouse emissions, and create good-paying union jobs. Additionally, electric high-speed rail trains will take millions of cars off the roads and reduce emissions, further cementing intercity rail as an environmentally-friendly alternative to flying or driving and saving time for millions of Americans.

Brightline officials said the plan is to break ground early next year so the line is finished in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.