Las Vegans are used to start-and-stop train promises that dangle and disappear. But this time the Brightline West line might actually be different. We spoke to Nevada Independent reporter Gabby Birenbaum, who recently wrote about Brightline West, to get the details.
You interviewed stakeholders about this train. Did you get the sense that this time, things might be different?
“There are two things that are animating people's confidence about the situation now, as opposed to in the past. One is that they're much farther along in the permitting process than they ever got before. And the second piece they’re working on is the funding piece. The two big differences here are that one, as opposed to some of the options in the past, this [is partially funded by] a private company that has a record of success in Florida. And two, the federal money that they’ve appropriated for the project.”
What other hurdles remain for Brightline West beyond the money?
“After the money, it's just, can they do the construction? And that's certainly no easy task. Staying on cost and staying on time are both big challenges. They [also] need one last environmental permit for the section of the train between Victorville and Rancho Cucamonga. That decision is supposed to come out this summer.”
A map of the proposed route. (Brightline West)
What do you think a high speed rail line would do for Las Vegas?
“I think you really can't understate the potential. The economic boom from people who are coming in for the weekend, spending money at businesses in Vegas, going to casinos, going to shows, going to dinner. Jobs in the construction and operation of the train. The environmental benefit is a big draw for people — one of the biggest pollution sectors of all pollution comes from transportation and a huge part of that is just from sitting in your car.”
