On Monday, the Transportation Secretary joined other officials in breaking ground for America’s upcoming high-speed railway.
“I firmly believe that once Americans have the opportunity to experience high-speed rail within the United States, there will be no turning back. People will come to expect and demand it all across the country,” stated Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in an interview with CNBC on Monday.
Brightline West is set to open its railway by 2028, offering a Florida route as well. Spanning 218 miles, this high-speed rail system will connect Las Vegas, Nevada, to Los Angeles, California, with the capability of reaching speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.
The upcoming high-speed rail system in the United States is being hailed as the country’s first true high-speed rail. It is expected to be operational by the time of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, providing passengers with faster travel times, cutting the usual journey duration in half to just two hours.
President Joe Biden’s 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill is the source of funding for the high-speed rail system project between Nevada and California. In December, Biden announced $8.2 billion in federal funds for new rail projects, with $3 billion specifically allocated to expedite the development of this project.
Brightline, the company behind the project, has announced that the rest of the venture will be financed through private funding. They anticipate that the project will have a considerable economic impact, estimated to be over $10 billion, and will generate over 35,000 new jobs during the construction phase across the two states.
The discussions surrounding the potential development of a high-speed railway in California have been ongoing since the Obama administration’s attempts in 2012 to initiate the project. In December, President Biden emphasized that the high-speed line has the potential to accommodate over 11 million passengers annually, which would result in a decrease in the number of cars on the road and a reduction in emissions within the region.
The groundbreaking day received high praise from a Transport Workers Union official.
“The unveiling of this critical infrastructure project, which will revolutionize the way people travel and create numerous well-paying jobs, is an occasion that the Transport Workers Union takes great pride in,” expressed International President John Samuelsen in a statement.
The Brightline West project has now officially begun with the breaking of ground. Wes Edens has stated that we can anticipate visible construction to commence in late summer or early fall. This is an exciting development for the #vegas, #socal, #brightlinewest, and #highspeedrail communities. Mick Akers shared a tweet with an image of the groundbreaking event.
According to him, investments in major infrastructure projects such as Brightline West not only offer a means of transportation but also create employment opportunities that lead to economic stability for diligent individuals.
On social media, Buttigieg expressed his enthusiasm for Monday morning, referring to it as a significant milestone in the development of American rail and the employment opportunities it brings.
The Transportation Department highlighted the lack of investment in passenger rail in America compared to other countries for decades.
In an exciting update, it was announced that the construction of Brightline West is commencing today. The team behind the project expressed their enthusiasm for this significant milestone, stating, “That changes today, with the start of construction on Brightline West.” This marks a pivotal moment in the progress of the initiative.
“This project aims to bolster Nevada’s tourism economy while simultaneously generating well-compensated union jobs,” expressed Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat, on X.
In a social media post, Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democratic senator from Nevada, expressed her agreement with Rosen’s view on the importance of bolstering the state’s tourism industry and generating well-paying union jobs. She highlighted the potential of Brightline West in achieving these goals for Nevada.
Nevada’s state Assembly speaker, Steve Yeager, a Democrat, highlighted the benefits of the project, including the creation of union jobs, reduced traffic and air pollution, and an enhanced travel experience. Yeager described the groundbreaking ceremony as a well-attended event.