Construction Begins on High-Speed Rail From Southern California to Las Vegas

LOS ANGELES—A high-speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas is one step closer to reality with the start of construction on the project. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was among the dignitaries on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony on April 22 south of the famed Las Vegas Strip. “This day is a major milestone in building the future of American rail and the jobs that come with it,” Mr. Buttigieg posted on social media ahead of the event. “We’re supporting this pivotal project with billions of dollars from President Biden’s infrastructure law.” The $12 billion Brightline West project will be a fully electric, zero-emission system that officials say will be one of the greenest forms of transportation in the United States. The project is expected to bolster tourism, create 35,000 jobs, ease traffic on I-15, and cut more than 400,000 tons of carbon pollution each year, Brightline officials said....