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LAS VEGAS, NV— This week, Assemblymember Chris Holden joined State and National leaders for the historic groundbreaking of the Brightline West high-speed rail. Assemblymember Holden has been a lifelong advocate of regional transportation and connectivity across the west coast. Last year, as Chair of the Select Committee on Regional Transportation Solutions, Holden hosted an informational hearing last year featuring Brightline West on the panel and they shared plans on the early stages of the production of the historic rail line.
“I am so pleased to see this project come into fruition. Transportation is a key part of opening doors and opportunities. The benefit of better connectivity goes beyond convenience and will impact our regional dedication to environmental health, equity, business opportunity, economic growth, and so much more,” said Assemblymember Holden. “This high-speed rail is a major step, but still only the beginning of great innovation and change for our country.”
The 218-mile system will be constructed in the middle of the I-15 and is based on Brightline’s vision to connect city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive. Hailed as the greenest form of transportation in the world, Brightline West will run zero emission, fully electric trains capable of speeds of 200 miles per hour. The groundbreaking included remarks from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Brightline Founder Wes Edens, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Senior Advisor to President Biden Steve Benjamin and Vince Saavedra of the Southern Nevada Building Trades.
