LAS VEGAS — A high-speed rail line between California and Nevada is expected to transform regional travel as construction continues.
The ambitious high-speed rail project broke ground in April 2024, and project developers confirmed that it is currently in the “civil construction” phase, with the route along Interstate 15 being prepared. Developers initially said the project would be done in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but that deadline has been pushed back to late 2029.
The 200-mph service is set to connect Las Vegas to Southern California in approximately two hours, with an estimated cost of more than $21 billion. The projected travel time is set to cut driving time in half, setting up Las Vegas as a desirable weekend getaway destination and potentially easing traffic along the busy travel corridor. Having access to a speed rail could boost midweek travel and increase same-day or overnight trips. The rail is also predicted to affect the LA-to-Vegas air corridor, which carries nearly 2 million passengers annually.
As of early March, the project developers confirmed that they are still working to finalize a $6 billion Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
