By Railfan & Railroad Staff

The Federal Railroad Administration has been announcing numerous grants for rail projects across the country — including 10 projects in nine states that are ready for construction and 69 corridors in 44 states identified for future development — but perhaps the biggest winners this week have been two different high-speed rail projects out west. The California High Speed Rail Authority and Brightline West are each receiving $3 billion for their respective projects. 

CHSRA wants to connect the greater Los Angeles area with San Francisco and Brightline West is hoping to open a high-speed line between Los Angeles and Las Vegas by 2028. The funds are the result of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Federal-State Partnership Program. Through a second program, called Corridor ID, the FRA has been awarding dozens of grants of $500,000 to study new routes and improved services. 

“This is a transformational investment in American trains,” said Rick Harnish, executive director of the High Speed Rail Alliance, a national nonprofit organization. “Travelers can now expect to see at least one train running as fast as 200 mph in the United States this decade, as well as a dramatic expansion of regional train service. This combination of high-speed backbones, connected with regional rail networks, has the power to give people throughout the country the option to use fast, frequent, affordable trains. If you have ever felt frustrated by traffic gridlock or airport hassles, a better future just got closer.”

Brightline, which already operates trains between Miami and Orlando, aims to launch 186 mph passenger service between Las Vegas and Los Angeles in time for the 2028 Olympics. California and Nevada have already granted Brightline a right of way alongside Interstate 15, and federal funding now allows the project to break ground.

To view the full list of Fed-State National project selections and Corridor ID selections, please click here and here.