Las Vegas, NV – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), a senior member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, announced $3 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to the Nevada Department of Transportation for Brightline West, the first true high-speed rail system in America, connecting Las Vegas and Southern California. 

“As far back as 2001, I’ve been advocating to bring a true high-speed rail system to Southern Nevada, and I am thrilled that this funding will allow Brightline West and the Nevada Department of Transportation to do just that,” said Rep. Titus. “This project will help bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue and create thousands of good-paying, union jobs. We’ll be creating jobs, reducing emissions, alleviating traffic, and setting an unprecedented example for the possibilities of high-speed rail in our country.”

“The High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition is proud to be in partnership with Brightline West in this historic project. Americans want high-speed rail, and Brightline West and the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition will deliver. Brightline West will be the most elegant travel by rail experience you can have in America, and it will be the catalyst for America’s renaissance of travel by high-speed rail. The High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition is ready to bring this transformative transportation project to Americans. Let’s get to work,” shared the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition in a statement.

“This is a momentous day for the workers of Southern Nevada, specifically members of the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union, as we announce our partnership with Brightline West and the California Building Trades to create our country’s first true high-speed rail system,” said Vince Saavedra, executive secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union. "Our thousands of high-skilled members of our allied unions are standing at the ready to build this rail system. Nevada was built on the backs of our labor union members, and this historic rail project will continue that legacy. This project will create thousands of jobs and bring millions of dollars into our economy, and I am proud of the role our unions will play in it."

Background
The Brightline West project will construct a high-speed rail system along the congested Interstate 15 corridor, connecting Southern California to Nevada. Estimates show it will generate over $10 billion in economic activity, the creation of more than 35,000 construction jobs, and the reduction of over 400,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.

Rep. Titus played an integral role in making today’s funding possible. During House negotiations in 2021 on an infrastructure package, she was able to secure the inclusion of language allowing private companies, like Brightline, to partner with public entities when applying for funding through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program. The language was retained when the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed by President Biden. 

Earlier this year, Rep. Titus led the Nevada delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging funding for the project, and celebrated Brightline’s agreement with the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union to ensure that the project would create good-paying union jobs. 

Following the completion this summer of all of the necessary environmental reviews for the project, Rep. Titus called on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to expedite consideration of Brightline’s petitions to begin construction. 

The High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition includes the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical and Engineering Department, National Conference of Firemen and Oilers 32BJ/SEIU, Transportation Communications Union, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Transport Workers Union of America, American Train Dispatchers Association, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Department, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.