WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration last week provided environmental clearance for a Southern California section of the proposed Brightline West high speed rail line to Las Vegas, Nev., moving the project closer to construction.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the FRA determined there would be no significant environmental impacts for the 49-mile extension from Victorville to Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., which would mostly be built within the right-of-way of Interstate 15.
“The FRA’s Finding of No Significant Impact confirms the environmental benefits of the project extending into Greater Los Angeles at Rancho Cucamonga,” Sarah Watterson, president of Brightline West, said in a statement to the Review-Journal. “Having permits and right of way are typically the highest barriers to success for large scale infrastructure developments, and Brightline West’s tremendous progress here signifies why we are moving towards a ground-break later this year.”
Including the newly approved section, Brightline West would build a 218-mile line between Rancho Cucamonga and Las Vegas, with Metrolink service from an adjacent station in Rancho Cucamonga providing a rail connection to downtown L.A.
The project, estimated to cost $12 billion, at one time was set to begin construction in 2020, but delayed its financing efforts to await more favorable conditions in the bond market. A bipartisan group of legislators from Nevada and California have supported a Nevada bid for up to $3.75 billion in federal funding for the project [see “Nevada, California legislators back federal funding …,” Trains News Wire, April 25, 2023].
As I understand it, a large portion of Brightline West will be built in the median of I-15, reducing environmental impact.
Best Wishes for success, Brightline.
Any rail line is a big improvement and step forward for the environment. Trains are energy efficient, especially if it is powered by electricity but even the clean, fuel efficient diesels do just as well. Compare that to highways packed and choked with hundreds of cars and trucks spewing out harmful emissions of gas, oil and highly toxic chemicals and fumes which endanger both human and animal and only polute the air we breathe and inhale. To the naysayers who don;t like the idea of rail expansion or growth and that includes the NIMBYS here in Florida which Brightline have to contend with. Perhaps you would want a 20 lane highway with cars and trucks racing back and forth instead. It is strange but to be expected that nobody complains about highway expansion or growth or adding more cars to the mix but just even propose one mile of rail expansion and there are howls of protest and complaints like the railroad and the train is some dreadful monster that will destroy mankind To the builders of Brightline West build and move forward with this plan to bring hi speed rail to California and beyond. Like Brightline in Florida, this is a sign of how and what rail travel in America can be for the future. Ignore the NIMBYs and rail haters as well as the highway and auto interests who only will destroy our environment and our health with their selfish plans for a landscape crowded with highways and cars belching gas and noise. GO BRIGHTLINE WEST and whereever else you decide to build new rail lines.
Joseph C. Markfelder
This might be the only “High Speed Rail” line that actually ever gets built in California?
It doesn’t sound like Nevada has the (hoped-for) $3.75B increment of funding that they’re seeking from the federal government yet?
Interesting that the renderings always leave out one of the required items, the catenary.
It will never happen but instead you will see a cross burning from God that you have infringed upon the His people by trying to destroy His land.
I will have nothing more to say about the matter as you have now endangered so many people who must truly fight the matter.
You have consumed yourself with unnatural passions for the things of God and say these things like it is so natural for you to build on such a Holy land.
Please go away
Construction on the route is expected to begin in 2023 pending result from a $3.75 billion in grant application from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and revenue service is planned to begin in 2027.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
The Brightline West service is planned to utilize Siemens Velaro Novo rolling stock. Brightline would be the first customer of the Siemens Velaro Novo platform, which is currently being tested by DB in Germany using the ICE-S train.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Let’s get building! 🙂