LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Brightline West project for high-speed rail from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga remains “on budget” and “on time,” according to new U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy — though Southern Nevadans have waited months for construction to begin.
So, when could construction begin? Nevada Department of Transportation officials indicated, in a mid-February Board of Directors meeting with Governor Joe Lombardo, that Brightline could finally start work in two months.
Duffy recently mentioned the Brightline West project in a press conference in Downtown Los Angeles, while voicing heavy criticism and financial scrutiny of the rail project from SoCal to San Francisco.
“We’re not opposed to rail. I’m not opposed to high-speed rail. There are really great projects that we should invest in,” Duffy said. “The project from L.A. to Las Vegas: it appears that the project is going well,” he said.
“It appears to be on budget. On time. Those are the projects that I think taxpayers are willing to invest in,” Duffy said. Brightline was given a $3 billion federal grant to complete the rail project.
Duffy said that his office would scrutinize promised funding from the previous administration.
Brightline officials told FOX5, they could not comment on construction timelines during this financing phase: a $2.5 billion private activity bond sale is underway, though commencement “feels close.”
Last April, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other Congressional delegates held a groundbreaking ceremony for Brightline. Back then, Brightline officials told FOX5 that they had expected work to commence in the summer.
Over the past few months, Brightline crews have conducted field investigation work and geotechnical borings from Las Vegas to Southern California; the work in Southern Nevada is 99% complete, a spokesperson said to FOX5.
In a Feb. 10 Board of Directors meeting for NDOT, officials told Gov. Lombardo that the project is wrapping up design and securing all necessary financing for the $12.5 billion project. Funding and financing include a $3 billion federal grant, $500 million in equity, $6 million project finance bank loan, and private activity bond sales.
“So do you have any idea or approximate time when the first shovel will go in the dirt?” Lombardo asked.
“Honestly, my hope is within the next month or so we’ll hear answers on them assigning those contracts…I would suggest in the next couple months would be very good,” said NDOT senior project manager Eric Scheetz.
NDOT officials said the agency is in possession of the $3 billion federal grant; Brightline is required to show financial capability for the project, before the state of Nevada reimburses Brightline for those federal funds.
When construction finally begins, it will last four years.
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