The Brightline West project that will link Las Vegas with the Los Angeles area just got its second helping-hand in a month from the Federal government with a $2.5 billion loan guarantee to go with the $3 billion grant announced last month.
The funds come from federal Infrastructure Act funds, and are intended to insure the completion of the new rail line, being built by the only U.S. privately-owned high-speed rail company. Brightline is already operating a high-speed line between the Miami and Orlando areas and is expanding that line to Tampa.
The western line, which is scheduled to open by 2028 in time for possible Olympics in LA, has a total price tag of $12 billion, and would cut the trip between Las Vegas and the L.A. area to a bit over two hours, although it would not actually reach Los Angeles. Instead, the southern terminus will be at Rancho Cucamonga, where passengers could transfer to commuter trains to downtown Los Angeles.
