High-Speed Rail to Connect Las Vegas and Los Angeles by 2028
Get ready for a new era of travel between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area! A whopping $12 billion project promises to launch America's first true high-speed rail line by 2028, just in time for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has thrown his support behind this venture, which is set to generate thousands of union jobs, improve local economies, and significantly cut traffic and air pollution.
The company behind this ambitious project, Brightline West, plans to lay 218 miles of track primarily along Interstate 15. This track will not only connect Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, California, but also feature a station in Victorville and link up with commuter rail services to downtown Los Angeles. The trains, inspired by Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet trains, are expected to hit speeds of 186 mph, slashing the current four-hour drive to just over two hours.
Besides fast travel, Brightline West promises an enhanced travel experience with amenities like Wi-Fi, on-board refreshments, and luggage check-ins. Expected to handle 11 million passengers annually, this rail line could be a game-changer in reducing the notorious I-15 traffic jams, making post-Vegas trips a breeze. As Wes Edens of Brightline Holdings remarked, this could well mark the birth of a high-speed rail industry in the U.S.
Why This Matters:
With trains capable of reaching speeds up to 186 mph, the project is expected to draw millions of annual passengers, effectively pulling a significant number of travelers off the roads. This reduction in road traffic could ease congestion on critical freight routes, particularly along Interstate 15, potentially speeding up ground transportation times for goods moving in and out of these major urban centers. Plus, the construction and operational phases of the rail project are likely to spur demand for various logistics services, from the delivery of materials and equipment to ongoing maintenance and support services.
Our Take:
Could this rail project set the stage for a broader shift in how we think about transporting goods in congested areas? Imagine future expansions or similar projects elsewhere that could open up new lanes for speedy, efficient delivery services, bypassing the usual highway logjams. If high-speed passenger rail takes off, high-speed freight services might not be far behind. So, keeping an eye on this project could give you a head start in adapting to and capitalizing on these emerging opportunities.
Los Angeles is reimagining about 3,229 acres near its harbors—connecting communities like San Pedro and Wilmington—to boost transit, pedestrian areas, and clean industrial uses, aiming for a healthier environment.