Cortez Masto Joins Groundbreaking for Brightline West, Nevada’s First High-Speed Rail System

Las Vegas, Nev. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) celebrated the groundbreaking for the Brightline West high-speed rail system between Las Vegas and Southern California. Cortez Masto helpedsecure the necessary funding for the project - which is estimated to create 35,000 good-paying union jobs, bolster Southern Nevada's tourism economy, and reduce congestion along the Interstate-15 corridor.

"Having high-speed rail in Las Vegas will electrify our economy in Southern Nevada, and I'm thrilled to celebrate this milestone today," said Senator Cortez Masto. "This project is on track to create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs while cutting down traffic on I-15, and I'll keep working with the Biden Administration to get this done as quickly as possible and continue delivering easier and cleaner transportation options for everyone in Nevada."

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.

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.

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