Washington - On Friday, December 8, President Joe Biden revealed a $3 billion investment for an ambitious high-speed rail initiative connecting Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Speaking at the Las Vegas Carpenters International Training Center, President Biden expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "At long last, we're building the first high-speed rail project in our nation's history, and it's starting here. It's part of the $8.2 billion investment we're making in ten major rail projects across America, reaching tens of millions of people. We're putting high-speed rail on the fast track."

Acknowledging the challenges of interstate travel, Biden highlighted the congestion on highways and emphasized the difficulties faced by those commuting between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He underlined that the new rail project would significantly reduce the travel time from seven hours to just three hours.

Emphasizing the environmental benefits, Biden stated, "And it won't just get there faster, the rail project reduces carbon emissions by three... Is the same as taking three million vehicles off the highway. Three million. And all the studies show, by the way, people get from point A to point B faster on a train than their car. They take the train. They take the train. Think of what that's going to mean to the environment."

The project, expected to transport 11 million passengers annually, promises extensive employment opportunities. President Biden outlined the broader impact, envisioning the high-speed rail transforming California's Central Valley with new businesses, residents, visitors, and economic prospects.

Describing it as California's most ambitious rail undertaking in the Western Hemisphere, Biden highlighted the project's eco-friendly features, aiming for 100% renewable energy. He emphasized the job creation aspect, emphasizing that "this project is about jobs."

In addition to the Los Angeles-Las Vegas project, President Biden shared that his administration supports 69 rail projects in their early stages across 44 states. He also announced a $9 billion investment to replace over 1000 Amtrak engines and cars nationwide, emphasizing the use of state-of-the-art equipment made in America by American workers.