The high-speed rail line will connect Southern California and Las Vegas via a two-hour trip along Interstate 15.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) signed off on $3 billion in funding for the Brightline West high-speed rail project that will connect Las Vegas to the Los Angeles area, releasing the funding to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and keeping the project on track to begin construction in 2025.
As Greg Haas explains in NewsNation, “Initial estimates indicate the high-speed train project will cost $12 billion. The train will run on tracks in the median of Interstate 15 and serve four stations — Las Vegas, and three stations in California at Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga, where it will connect to existing Metrolink lines to Los Angeles.”
Brightline already operates a high-speed rail line in Florida connecting Orlando and Miami. The company expects to launch the Southern California-to-Vegas service in time for the 2028 Olympics, which Los Angeles is hosting. The trip will take roughly two hours, with trains traveling at top speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. “The train is expected to reduce traffic congestion on I-15, removing 3 million cars from roadways and eliminating more than 400,000 tons of emissions annually, according to Brightline.”
FULL STORY: High-speed train project chugs ahead as $3B funding gets OK

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

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)