LAS VEGAS — Brightline West no longer expects to launch operations in time to capitalize on visitors to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, according to a company bond offering.
KTNV-TV reports that the 1,200 pages of documents related to that bond offering indicate that passenger service is now likely to begin in December 2028.
The bond offering is aiming to raise about $2.5 billion through the bond offering for the estimated $12.4 billion project. The company and Federal Railroad Administration have already signed off on a $3 billion federal grant [see “FRA finalizes …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 26, 2024].
While the company has yet to finalize its ticketing strategy, the documents project the average one-way fare will be $119, or $133 for a premium ticket.
If the December timeline is accurate, I would think on such a long linier project more crews could be working at one time to finish the project earlier. Bonuses to contractors for meeting time limits? 218 miles equal 22 ten mile work zones, not separate contracts just crew resposibility areas. Priority for bridges, underpasses, elevated sections and stations.
Your priority list is correct. It only tasks one of those items to put the whole project trying to wade through molasses to reach the finish line.
I don’t think they have all their permits in order just yet. As the victims of the LA Fires have found, no permit, no work.
I can’t say I’m surprised they’re not going to make the Olympics; while they’ve announced groundbreaking and conducted geotechnical borings, I haven’t heard anything about heavy construction starting (other than “later this year”). Hopefully they are able to get started soon.
I wonder when the project will really get completed and how much more it will cost .