Brightline West

Commentary

Watch: Brightline on CBS Mornings

CBS Mornings correspondent Kris Van Cleave produced an excellent report on the prospects for high-speed rail in the United States, focusing on Brightline’s successful Miami-Orlando service, which offers 125-mph operations on a

Brightline West says its planned 218-mile passenger rail service will run from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., with 96% of its alignment within the median of the I-15 highway.

STB Advances $12B Brightline West Project

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has authorized construction and operation of a modified alignment of the high-speed passenger rail project proposed by private-sector firm Brightline West, subject to environmental mitigation measures.

The environmental review and permitting process for the planned Victor Valley-to-Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. segment of Brightline West’s Las Vegas-to-Southern California high-speed rail project is complete, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported July 14.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Brightline West, Metrolinx, NYMTA

Idaho and Utah are seeking to revive Amtrak service between Salt Lake City and Boise. Also, Brightline West’s planned Las Vegas-to Southern California high-speed rail project advances; Metrolinx teams with Turo car-sharing in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area; and subway and bus workers in TWU Local 100 ratify their contract with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and an MTA survey shows increased satisfaction for subway, bus and paratransit riders.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
  • News

First Look: Rail-Related RAISE Grantees for FY23

More than $244 million in FY 2023 RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) program grants will be distributed to 13 freight and passenger rail-related projects in 11 states, according to

Rendering Courtesy of Brightline

Transit Briefs: Brightline West, RTD, Freedom to Move Act, Minn. Met Council

Brightline and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) apply to acquire $3.75 billion in Federal-State Partnership Program grant money to go toward construction of the $12 billion Brightline West high-speed rail system. Also, Regional Transportation District (RTD) announces that a Spanish version of its Transit Watch app is now available; Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) announce fare-free transit legislation, Freedom to Move Act; and Minnesota’s Metropolitan (Met) Council announces the creation of its new Transit Infrastructure Division.

ACE officials are anticipating that expansion into Stanislaus and Sacramento counties will begin in late 2026, The Modesto Bee reports. (ACE Photograph)

Transit Briefs: ACE, Amtrak, BART, Brightline West

ACE’s (Altamont Corridor Express) timeline is being pushed back for its commuter rail service expansion into Stanislaus and Sacramento counties in California. Also, Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission are seeking a federal study for new long-distance service across Mississippi and Louisiana to Texas; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) proposes fare increases in 2024 and 2025; and Brightline West teams with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (SBCTC) and the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union on its planned 218-mile high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California.

Brightline West has inked a commitment with the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition, which comprises 13 rail unions representing more than 160,000 freight, regional, commuter and passenger railroad workers in the United States. (Photograph Courtesy of Brightline West)

Transit Briefs: Brightline West, Metrolinx, NYMTA

Brightline West supports using union labor for its planned 218-mile high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California. Also, Metrolinx provides updates the Finch West LRT’s Humber College Station and Toronto Union Station projects in Canada; and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will test “wide-aisle” fare gates.

Forbes has recognized Amtrak as one of 500 “Best Large Employers” in America for 2023. (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, BART, Brightline, Metra, NCTD, TransLink

Amtrak earns a spot on the Forbes 2023 list of America’s Best Large Employers. Also, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) launches a domestic violence prevention campaign; Brightline targets the opening of its Orlando, Fla., passenger rail extension, and plans three wildlife overcrossings for its Los Vegas-to-Southern California high-speed rail project; Metra’s Board signs off on the Chicago commuter railroad’s 2023-27 strategic plan; North County Transit District (NCTD) launches pilot fare products to meet the needs of San Diego County’s hybrid workforce; and members of the metro Vancouver community can scrap their cars for 16 months of free transit.

Brightline West is seeking to build a 49-mile high-speed rail system through the Cajon Pass, linking Victor Valley, Calif., and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., according to an environmental assessment recently released by the FRA.

Transit Briefs: Brightline West, NYMTA, TriMet, WMATA

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) releases an environmental assessment of Brightline West’s proposed 49-mile Cajon Pass High-Speed Rail system. Also, the Society of American Military Engineers, New York City post, recognizes New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for improving accessibility; Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) maintains a top bond rating; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reopens six stations following an eight-week shutdown of rail service south of Reagan National Airport.