LV-LA high-speed rail system moves closer to federal funding

The Clark County Commission approved a resolution that supports Brightline West and the Nevada Department of Transportation’s application for an intercity passenger rail grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The grant could provide up to $3.75 billion to establish the passenger rail service, which is planned to be built along Interstate 15. Other costs would be paid by tax-exempt private activity bond allocations from Nevada and California, and private capital, the Review-Journal reported in April.

This commission vote comes after the Federal Railroad Administration last month determined that the project would cause no significant environmental impacts by extending into the Los Angeles area.

The project also received a $25 million grant in June that would fund the design and construction of two stations in southern California between Brightline’s Rancho Cucamonga station and downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station along the Metrolink.

The entire project is expected to cost $12 billion, and begin operating in 2027.

This story has been updated to reflect that the $25 million grant is funding stations along the Metrolink, not Brightline West rail line.