Photo by Grant Cai on Unsplash
Biden Funds $3B for Brightline West Rail Between CA and Las Vegas
December 6, 2023
On Tuesday, the Biden administration revealed a $3 billion grant to fund a quarter of the costs of the Brightline West rail project. This high-speed rail line, which will traverse from the glitz of Las Vegas to the shores of Los Angeles, has been on the cards for a while now. The news has certainly brought high spirits to the bipartisan team of lawmakers from Nevada and California who have been lobbying for this federal grant.
Brightline West has been visualized as a catalyst for economic development. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) expressed her enthusiasm in a statement, calling the venture a “historic high-speed rail project” that will revolutionize Nevada’s tourism and transportation sectors. She added that the project will attract more tourists, ease traffic on I-15, decrease carbon emissions, generate thousands of jobs, and stimulate local union labor.
The substantial $3 billion grant comes as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Brightline, the country’s only private passenger rail company operating a high-speed service, had earlier requested $3.75 billion for the project. The overall anticipated expenses for the venture stand at an estimated $12 billion.
Advocates of the project believe that it will provide a more affordable travel option from Las Vegas to California, relieving traffic and reducing emissions in the process. It’s estimated that an overwhelming 16 million people drive this route annually, traversing the Mojave Desert via Interstate 15. According to Brightline, the proposed rail connection could potentially remove 3 million car trips every year.
The Brightline West project will start from a new station positioned near the vibrant Las Vegas Strip and extend to Rancho Cucamonga, California. Here, it will connect with Los Angeles’s existing regional rail system. This nearly three-hour journey will be facilitated by trains traveling at impressive speeds of up to 180 miles per hour. Each train can accommodate around 500 passengers and is expected to run as frequently as every 45 minutes.
The completion of the Brightline West project is targeted for 2027, just in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. President Biden is scheduled to visit Las Vegas on Friday, where he’s expected to formally announce the project. This highly anticipated rail project undoubtedly promises a more connected and sustainable future for the regions involved.
Recent News
Massive Data Breach Hits Ticketmaster, Affecting 560 Million Customers
Ticketmaster has fallen victim to a significant cyber-attack, potentially compromising the data of up to 560 million customers. The breach was confirmed by Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, which revealed that a notorious hacking group, ShinyHunters, is behind the attack. The hackers are demanding a ransom of approximately £400,000 to prevent the data from being sold on the dark web.
Toyota Recalls 100,000+ Tundra and Lexus LX SUVs Over Engine Debris Issue
Toyota has announced a recall for over 100,000 Tundra pickups and Lexus LX SUVs in North America due to potential engine issues caused by machining debris. This recall affects certain 2022-2023 models of the Tundra and LX, which are equipped with the new V6 twin-turbo engine. The V6 twin-turbo engine has faced considerable scrutiny regarding its reliability, especially when compared to the previous naturally aspirated V8 engines.
Wordle and Worldle Battle Over Names
A legal dispute has erupted between the wildly popular word game Wordle and the lesser-known geography game Worldle, centering on the similarity of their names. Wordle, which was developed by Josh Wardle in 2021 and later acquired by the New York Times in 2022 for a substantial sum, has gained immense popularity. In this game, players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word.
FDA Issues Recall for Crecelac Goat Milk Infant Formula
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert regarding Crecelac Goat Milk Infant Formula and other infant formula products imported and distributed by Dairy Manufacturers Inc. The alert highlights Cronobacter contamination concerns with Crecelac Infant Powdered Goat Milk Infant Formula. Although Dairy Manufacturers Inc. initiated a recall on May 24, 2024, due to non-compliance with FDA regulations, new findings of Cronobacter contamination have prompted further action.