United States: On Tuesday, the Biden administration revealed their grand plan to inject over $6 billion into two cutting-edge electric rail projects out West. These initiatives once hailed as the future of public transportation, have been a bone of contention due to their hefty price tags and the slow crawl of construction.
Fundings
Word is, Senators from California and Nevada spilled the beans on Uncle Sam, putting up $3 billion for a privately run rail connecting the flashy lights of Las Vegas to the glitz of Los Angeles. They also announced a sweet $3.1 billion for phase one of California’s attempt to link the bustling streets of Los Angeles with the iconic landscape of San Francisco. Now, let’s be clear: these funds are just a drop in the bucket compared to the overall cost.
This move isn’t just about cash; it’s a declaration by the Biden administration that they’re all in for high-speed rail. You know, the kind you see zipping around Europe and Asia, but that has been mostly missing in action in the US, where cars rule the road.
Brian Kelly, the head honcho at the California High-Speed Rail Authority, couldn’t contain his excitement and said, “The federal government is back in the game of building high-speed rail in America. This award is a game-changer.”
California Dreamin’
Rewind to 2008, when Californians gave a nod to a 500-mile electric train connecting the dots between LA and San Fran at a jaw-dropping 220 mph. The dream cost a cool $30 billion and was supposed to be done and dusted by 2020. Well, reality hit, and now, more than a decade later, the price tag has skyrocketed to over $100 billion, with only $25 billion in the piggy bank. Right now, they’re focused on a 119-mile stretch connecting Merced, Fresno, and Bakersfield, but don’t hold your breath; it won’t be ready until at least 2033. The $3.1 billion is earmarked for getting that leg up and running.
Kelly spilled the beans that the extra federal moolah is the magic potion to fill a $10 billion budget hole for the Central Valley route. And don’t worry; they’re planning to pass the hat around for more from Uncle Sam and the state. Governor Gavin Newsom is all smiles, calling it a “vote of confidence” at a pivotal moment for the project.
Money Rollercoaster and Political Drama
The funding story reads like a rollercoaster, with Trump trying to pull the plug on $1 billion from Obama’s stash. Then, state lawmakers, Democrats included, did a little dance to stop Governor Newsom from tapping into over $4 billion in voter-approved bonds. Twist and turns aside, both pots of money are now fair game.
Now, let’s talk about that Vegas-to-LA dream. It’s been a hot topic for eons, and Senator Jacky Rosen spilled the tea that they’ve got all the green lights: right-of-way, environmental nods, and labor agreements. The 218-mile I-15 corridor is good to go.
Looking Ahead
There is no ribbon-cutting date yet, but Senator Rosen’s got a vision – electric trains shuttling folks by the time LA hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Wes Edens, the bigwig at Brightline in Florida, is eager to roll up his sleeves, saying, “We’re ready to get to work,” just in time for President Biden’s visit to Las Vegas.
Senators Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, from both sides of the aisle, rallied in April, asking Biden to throw $3.75 billion into the mix for a public-private partnership.
Need for Speed
They’re talking about trains hitting nearly 200 mph, slashing a four-hour road trip from Vegas to suburban LA in half. Proponents believe this could be the antidote to weekend traffic nightmares on I-15, which can stretch for miles.
Senator Cortez Masto sees it as a job creator, economy booster, and a solution to I-15 gridlock, “Connecting Las Vegas and Southern California by high-speed rail will create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs, boost our Southern Nevada tourism economy, and finally help us cut down on I-15 traffic.”
The clamor for a high-speed route from the Mojave Desert to Vegas goes way back to 2001, according to Dina Titus, a Democrat holding it down for the Las Vegas Strip. After a series of starts and stops and a COVID-19 derailment, it seems like we’re back on track.
Brightline Holdings LLC, the brains behind the only privately-owned intercity passenger train in the US, looks set to recreate the success of its Florida line in the City of Lights. Connecting Miami to Orlando, that line hits speeds of up to 125 mph. Here’s to hoping the magic works in the desert, too.