On Monday, California leaders affirmed plans to continue extending high-speed rail tracks through the Central Valley, charting a southbound course to Palmdale that will ultimately connect with Las Vegas.
The proposed high-speed rail linking Southern California and Las Vegas, commonly referred to as Brightline West, has generated intense interest among policymakers, travelers, and investors. Backed by Brightline, a subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group, the project is designed to offer a faster, more sustainable alternative to driving along the heavily trafficked Interstate 15.
According to reports, early concepts for this corridor date back years, sparked by the frequent congestion on I-15. Over time, various studies weighed environmental impacts, right-of-way issues, and financing models. As part of that process, Brightline West emerged distinct from California’s separate high-speed rail plan, intending instead to serve the tourism- and leisure-travel-heavy route between Greater Los Angeles and the Las Vegas Strip.