President Joe Biden paid a strategic visit to Las Vegas on Friday, rallying support for an ambitious infrastructural endeavor that will connect the entertainment capital of the world to the sprawling urban landscapes of California. Under the dazzling neon lights, the commander-in-chief unveiled a significant endowment of $3 billion in federal aid dedicated to the creation of a high-speed rail line that promises to revolutionize travel between these two iconic destinations.
This 218-mile rail system will stretch from the heart of Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, a suburban stronghold some 40 miles from the vibrant core of downtown Los Angeles. The vision of this project is grand in scale, with expectations set to accommodate over 11 million passengers annually once the rails are set in motion.
For years, the proposal for a high-speed conduit between Nevada and the Golden State lingered in the halls of debate, its seeds sown during the tenure of Nevada Senator Harry Reid. The clamor for its realization never waned, and on this day, among a throng of union supporters, carpenters and steelworkers alike, President Biden committed to turning this long-simmering dream into palpable steel and electric current. With poignant regard, he imagined the words of the late Senator Reid, echoing an old promise, “Harry Reid, I told you to 35 years ago to get this sucker done,” he said with a somber tilt of his head, “We’re getting it done.”
The president reflected upon the notorious gridlock that shackles the route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, a trek that can exhaust an entire day’s light. But he painted a future where this journey could unfold in a mere two-hour blur, with trains dashing at breakneck speeds of 186 miles per hour—a salve for the commuter’s soul.
This monumental enterprise not only represents an epoch of travel but signals a boon for the economy of Las Vegas. Jobs will burgeon, tourists will flock, and the very arteries of commerce will pulse with new vigor—a message Biden delivered with fervent conviction to the gathered crowd.
The timeline for this project points to a pivotal moment—the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles—by which the train shall be ushering masses with seamless efficiency, linking the City of Angels to the iridescence of the Strip, just in time for the global spectacle.
In a solemn tone, President Biden also attended to the heavy hearts left by the recent tragedy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Three professors had their futures snatched away in a senseless act of violence—a scene becoming all too familiar. Paying homage to the heroic efforts of the campus police officers who quelled further terror, the president mourned for Professors Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, Patricia Navarro Velez, and Naoko Takemaru. In their memory, he once more advocated for stringent measures to stem the tide of gun violence.
Simultaneously, there was a pause to honor the brave lives of Nevada troopers, Sgt. Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix, who met their end in the line of duty, victims of an alleged intoxicated driver.
On this day, amid the glint of ambition and the shadow of loss, President Biden did not shy away from drawing lines in the political sand. His words veiled no criticism of former President Donald Trump, pointing to the deep divisions that frame the upcoming run for the White House in 2024.
