Las Vegas — President Biden on Friday is announcing $8.2 billion in new funding for 10 passenger rail projects nationwide, representing the largest federal investment in passenger rail transportation since Amtrak was created in 1971.
Mr. Biden's trip to Nevada was originally planned to highlight the $3 billion federal investment in the high-speed rail line from Las Vegas to the greater Los Angeles area. But after the mass shooting Wednesday at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, that resulted in the deaths of three people, his stop there will take a more somber note.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president will address the shooting in a speech to Las Vegas union members Friday, but it's not clear whether the president will visit the campus, which is just a few miles away.
The $3 billion in new federal funding for the Las Vegas-Los Angeles rail line is about a third of the total projected cost of the new Brightline West train line, which is projected to be finished before the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The company touts the train on its website as the "first true high-speed passenger rail system in the nation."
Passenger Rail Projects to Receive Funding
A number of passenger rail projects across the United States will receive funding, according to the Biden administration. The projects include a high-speed train between Los Angeles and San Francisco, which is expected to reach speeds of 220 miles per hour. Additionally, there will be a rail expansion between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, as well as upgrades in Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, and other states.
While there will be a delay between the funding and the completion of these projects, the Biden administration hopes that the president's focus on the issue, along with the creation of union jobs during construction, will help garner public support for his economic policies. A recent CBS News poll found that many Americans believe their finances would be better off if former President Trump had been reelected in 2024.
The administration is aiming to capitalize on the funding for public transport upgrades to gain favor with voters ahead of next year's election. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of improving passenger rail service in the United States, comparing it to the high standards seen in countries like Japan, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
