Source: AFP
A proposed high-speed rail line linking Los Angeles to the US gaming and entertainment capital of Las Vegas moved closer to reality on Tuesday with the announcement of a $3 billion government grant.
The cash will come from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill that aims to overhaul the nation’s creaking rails, roads and bridges and is part of a plan to double the number of people riding the train by 2040.
When completed, the 218-mile trip between Las Vegas and downtown Los Angeles could take just 2 hours and 40 minutes, according to press reports, half the current travel time by car.
While high-speed rail is the norm in much of Europe and Asia, particularly China and Japan, the United States has lagged far behind.
However, there has been renewed emphasis on projects like this as the United States rushes to green its polluting transportation sector and encourage citizens to get out of their gas-guzzling cars.
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A line connecting Las Vegas to America’s second-largest city has been discussed for nearly two decades, during which the proposed cost has soared.
The $3 billion grant announced Tuesday represents just a quarter of the price of the project to be built by Florida-based Brightline West, which press reports say could be operational by 2028.
Nevada Sen. Jackie Rosen said the line could reduce the number of cars making the trip by up to 3 million a year, cutting global-warming carbon dioxide emissions by 400,000 tons a year.
“This historic high-speed rail project will be a game-changer for Nevada’s tourism and transportation economy,” he said.
“It will bring more visitors to our state, reduce traffic on I-15, create thousands of good-paying jobs and reduce carbon emissions, all while supporting the work of local unions.”
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Wes Edens, president of Brightline, said the company was honored to be entrusted with the project by the government.
“This is a historic moment that will serve as the foundation for a new industry and a remarkable project that will serve as the blueprint for how we can replicate this model across the country,” he said.
“We’re ready to get to work bringing our vision of American-made, American-built, world-class, state-of-the-art high-speed train travel to America.”
Biden is expected to formally announce the grant when he visits Las Vegas this week.
Last month, the White House said there would be $16.4 billion in new funding for 25 passenger rail projects in the Northeast.
Source: AFP