LAS VEGAS – (INT) - Brightline West on held an official groundbreaking Monday (April 22nd) in Las Vegas for its $12 billion, 218-mile high-speed rail project across San Bernardino County.

The route, which has full environmental clearance, will run primarily within the I-15 highway median and offer stops in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga.

Last December, the project was awarded a $3 billion grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant program.

Additionally, last June the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority received a $25 million RAISE program grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to fund the final design and construction of two Brightline West stations and associated facilities in Hesperia and in the Victor Valley of San Bernardino County.

The rest of the project will be privately funded, according to Brightline West, which has received a total allocation of $3.5 billion in private activity bonds from the USDOT.

By the numbers:

Brightline West reported that the project will cover more than 160 structures including viaducts and bridges. It will be constructed using 700,000 concrete rail ties, 2.2 million tons of ballast, and 63,000 tons of 100% American steel rail.

Story Date: April 29, 2024