New High-Speed Rail System Brightline West is Estimated to Create 35,000 New Good-Paying Union Jobs, Boost Tourism

December 6, 2023 - Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hailed the Biden administration’s announcement of $3 billion for Nevada to build a high-speed rail system between Las Vegas and Southern California. The Brightline West project is estimated to create 35,000 good-paying union jobs, bolster Southern Nevada’s tourism economy by making it easier for millions of Americans to visit Las Vegas from California every year, and reduce congestion and carbon emissions along the Interstate-15 corridor. Cortez Masto helped secure the necessary funding for this project to bring quality passenger rail through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and co-led efforts to deliver this funding for her state.

“Connecting Las Vegas and Southern California by high-speed rail will create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs, boost our Southern Nevada tourism economy, and finally help us cut down on I-15 traffic,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Bringing high-speed rail to Southern Nevada just makes sense, given the tens of millions of visitors we have each year. I will keep working to ensure Nevada is getting the resources we need to make transportation easier and cleaner for Nevada families.”

Brightline is the only current private provider of modern, intercity passenger rail service in America. This project could eliminate an estimated 3 million cars from I-15 annually, reducing over 400,000 tons of carbon emissions each year while creating 35,000 good-paying union jobs. Both organized labor and the economic development community support this project, including the Clark County Commission, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Nevada Resort Association, Vegas, Henderson, and Latin Chambers of Commerce, Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, State Building and Construction Trades Council of Southern Nevada, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Brotherhood-Railroad Signalmen, Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters, and LiUNA! Local 300.

Through her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has been working to boost Nevada’s economy and create good-paying jobs. She introduced comprehensive legislation to develop innovative transportation solutions for Nevadans and promote cleaner transportation. She successfully pushed to include many of these measures in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package to solve transportation challenges, expand clean transportation options, make traveling to school safer for students, and make important upgrades like bringing high-speed rail in Nevada.
Source: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto