Construction has commenced on a $12 billion high-speed train project that will connect Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga. The project, which is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, is expected to be a major boon to the Southern California economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The project will involve the construction of a 218-mile rail line along the 15 Freeway between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga. The line will be operated by Brightline West, a subsidiary of the company that operates a high-speed rail line between Miami and Orlando in Florida.
The Brightline system is expected to take 3 million cars off the freeway and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 400,000 tons annually. The project is also expected to create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic activity in California.
In San Bernardino County, where three of Brightline’s four train stations will be located, the project is seen as a major economic opportunity. County Supervisor Curt Hagman said the project will create “transformational” opportunities in the county.
In addition to the Vegas station, Brightline will have stops in Victor Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga. In Rancho Cucamonga, the station will be connected to the existing Metrolink platforms and Omnitrans bus loop.
Rancho Cucamonga City Manager John Gillison said the project is a “surreal” moment for the city. He said the station in Rancho Cucamonga is expected to see more than 11 million passengers a year.
Brightline CEO Mike Reininger said the goal is to have trains operating in time for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. The project has received $6.5 billion in backing from the Biden administration, including a $3 billion grant from federal infrastructure funds.
