Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently highlighted the progress of Brightline West’s high-speed rail project, connecting Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, California. Valued at $12 billion, this 218-mile project is praised for being on budget and on schedule. It received a $3 billion grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, with the remaining funds sourced from private equity and debt, including $5.5 billion in private activity bonding authority. Bonds worth $2.5 billion have been issued to support the project, divided between California and Nevada.
In contrast, Duffy criticized the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s project from San Francisco to Los Angeles, which faces significant budget overruns and delays. Originally estimated at $33 billion with a 2020 completion target, the project now costs over $106 billion. Duffy has called for a review to determine if continued federal funding is justified.
Brightline West plans four stations, with construction expected to start soon and take four years. The rail will run along the Interstate 15 right-of-way, including a station in Southern Nevada and another in Rancho Cucamonga for Metrolink transfers. The journey is projected to take two hours, with ticket prices ranging from $119 to $133.