A high speed rail project connecting Southern California and Las Vegas could help the environment, save money for travelers, increase safety, and generate $1 billion each year in revenue. Those are a just a few of the conclusions of a report released by the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Authority.

The report found that 27 percent of the more than 23 million who make the trip each year would do by high speed rail. Have Patch Send You Breaking News Alerts And Newsletters



"This confirms that the rail connector component of the HDC will add merit to attract private investors and builders, and give credibility that will justify public support-- key ingredients to a successful Public Private Partnership," said Robert Lovingood, San Bernardino County Supervisor, Chairman of the HDC JPA, and President of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. The report - combined with promises of infrastructure funding from the Trump Administration and the move of the Raiders to Las Vegas - may be the boost the project, once thought of as dead, needs to come to fruition.

Developer Tony Marnell, who built the Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas among other properties told the Review-Journal that a rail could be up and running in less than a decade. "The country needs another investment in infrastructure and it needs an investment in 21st century technology," he told the paper.

The rail could save more than two hours in each direction;

An average trip could cost $115 round trip, competitively priced with other travel options;

The 27 percent of travelers who would use it is comparable to other big markets such as the Northeast Corridor of the United States and in Spain. "The project will connect some of the fastest growing communities in the region, with the high speed rail projects bringing additional investment to grow our region's infrastructure," said Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director of Southern California Association of Governments.