Las Vegas-California $5.5 billion train loan gets endorsement

Las Vegas-California $5.5 billion train loan gets endorsement

By Richard N. Velotta (contact)

Friday
27 July 2012

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority is endorsing XPressWest’s $5.5 billion loan application to build a high-speed train between Las Vegas and Victorville, Calif., a key piece in the bid to link Southern Nevada with Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, recently appointed to head the MTA board, drafted the resolution that won unanimous approval from the board that oversees Metrolink commuter trains in Southern California.

The MTA board and XPressWest — formerly known as DesertXpress — announced in June that they had reached agreement to share resources to develop a seamless train operation between Las Vegas and Los Angeles using Metrolink tracks between Palmdale, Calif., and Los Angeles.

Part of the agreement includes working to link Victorville, the southern end point of the XPressWest line, with Palmdale. XPressWest has applied for a Federal Railroad Administration loan through its Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program.

“As part of our effort to develop a regional transportation system, the potential to link XpressWest to Palmdale and the entire Metrolink system creates enhanced opportunities for expanded mobility in Los Angeles County and throughout Southern California,” Antonovich said in a release announcing passage of the resolution.