The cost to build the Brightline West high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California has soared to $21.05 billion, according to a recent U.S. Transportation Department document. This marks a significant jump from the previously estimated cost of $12 billion. Brightline West, backed by Fortress Investment Group, has applied for a $6 billion federal loan through the Build America Bureau Credit Assistance Pipeline, reflecting the project’s increased financial needs.
A spokesperson for Brightline West confirmed the new project cost but did not provide details on the reasons behind the cost escalation. The company has already secured a $3 billion grant from the Federal Railroad Administration and has raised $2.5 billion through private activity bonds issued in both Nevada and California. Efforts to obtain additional construction loans are ongoing.
Brightline West plans to construct a 218-mile high-speed rail line connecting Las Vegas (just north of Blue Diamond Road) to Rancho Cucamonga in California, with intermediate stations in Hesperia and Apple Valley. The Rancho Cucamonga station is designed to link with LA’s existing Metrolink system, providing a connection to downtown Los Angeles.
Preliminary work is already visible, with site grading for the Las Vegas station underway, along with the relocation of utility lines. Geotechnical work has been taking place along the I-15 corridor in both Nevada and California for over a year. Nevada Department of Transportation director Tracy Larkin Thomason expressed confidence that major construction will start early next year, following the completion of preliminary site work.
The Brightline West project stands in stark contrast to California’s Central Valley high-speed rail project, which recently lost $4 billion in unspent federal funds. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly supported Brightline West, highlighting it as a positive example of high-speed rail development in the United States.