LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- A high-speed train connecting Las Vegas to Los Angeles is one step closer to reality.
The Secretary of Transportation has designated a high-speed rail corridor between the two cities. This opens up any group to seek federal money to help build the rail line.
For nearly three decades, there has been talk of a high-speed train between Las Vegas and California but the Secretary's announcement makes it more likely.
Senator Harry Reid says the congestion on I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas could be avoided.
"Take a drive. Go to Southern California. That will answer all the questions why we need high-speed rail," said Senator Harry Reid, (D) Nevada. He, along with Secretary Ray LaHood, announced the new high-speed rail corridor between the areas. It opens the door for federal funding to help pay for it. In the stimulus plan, $8 billion was set aside for high-speed rail.
"What jump starts our opportunity in America is President Obama's initiative that Congress passed to put $8 billion in the economic recovery," said Secretary LaHood, D.O.T.
Secretary LaHood says that money would be designated only for high-speed rail. He adds a train between the two metropolitan areas would reduce congestion and pollution by taking cars off the roads. About 170,000 cars a day travel I-15 into las vegas.
Las Vegas resident Woody Woodward is a Los Angeles native who now makes his home in Las Vegas.
"If the price were right and the timing were right and it took less than a flight to get here, I would absolutely take it. I think it's a great idea," Woodward said.
It's estimated tickets by two competing projects that are trying to build the rail line would be about $50 dollars each way. One project uses magnetic technology, travels 300 miles-per-hour and goes to Anaheim. The other group called Desertxpress is planning a train half as fast to Victorville. It will connect to Los Angeles through other rail lines. It's three times cheaper and uses only private funding with government loans.
Woodward says his friends in Los Angeles would likely use what ever train materializes.
"Then maybe I could stop picking them up at the airport," he said.
The transportation secretary says he will collect proposals from all over the country and decide by the end of this year which high-speed rail line gets some of the designated $8 billion dollars.
