The race to connect Southern California to Las Vegas by private passenger rail continues.

The Las Vegas Xpress is now planning a Spring 2021 opening for its "rail excursion" trips connecting Los Angeles to Las Vegas after delaying first from November 2019 and again from this month, reports Mick Ackers.
The Las Vegas Xpress, owned by X-Train, is still negotiating an operational agreement with Amtrak, according to Ackers.
The Last Vegas Xpress is not to be confused with XpressWest, a unit of Virgin Trains USA's parent company Florida East Coast Industries and operators of the Brightline passenger rail system from Miami to West Palm Beach, which has plans to launch high-speed rail service between Southern California and Las Vegas by 2023.
The differences between the two competing rail routes between Las Vegas and Southern California include issues of style and substance:
A train ride [on the Las Vegas Xpress] would take about 5½ hours traveling 79 mph, considerably longer than Virgin Trains USA’s planned high-speed train, which is expected to run from Victorville, California, to Las Vegas in approximately 90 minutes. A typical all-inclusive round trip, including food and beverage service, would cost $500.
The Las Vegas Xpress website touts the travel time at 4.5 hours on the website that promotes the planned rail service.
More distinctions between the two competing services are described by Ackers thusly:
Las Vegas Xpress considers itself to be a rail excursion business, so it doesn’t view the planned $4.8 billion Virgin Trains high-speed rail line as competition. Virgin’s project received the bonding authority from Nevada and California to be able to market bonds to raise money to construct the 170-mile miles of track in Interstate 15 right of way, with operations slated to begin in 2023.
FULL STORY: Las Vegas Xpress train project plans for 2021 launch date

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie