Brightline West High Speed Rail System
Dubbed the nation’s first true high-speed rail system, Brightline West will connect Southern California and Las Vegas in two hours, with stops in Victor Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga. The zero-emission trains will be fully electric and capable of 200 miles per hour speeds. Dudek provided cultural resources and compliance services to support the project development and pre-construction efforts.
Project Facts
- Brightline West
- San Bernardino County, CA to Las Vegas, NV
- America’s first true high-speed rail system
- Zero-emission, fully electric trains capable of 200 mph
- Reduces 400,000 tons of CO2 annually
- Construction begins late 2024
The Challenge
The Brightline West high-speed rail system will span 218 miles, most of which will be within the median of the I-15 highway. This route created a complex regulatory framework due to the long linear nature of the project and numerous overlapping jurisdictions. Successfully moving the project through Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) required close coordination with interested parties, local jurisdictions, and numerous state and federal regulatory agencies.
The Solution
Dudek completed cultural pedestrian surveys, Phase 1 and Phase 2 archaeological investigations, and paleontological resource management planning. We also assisted the Federal Railroad Administration in developing the programmatic agreement and historical properties treatment plan for the project. Additionally, cultural and tribal monitoring and general environmental compliance oversight services were provided during geotechnical and other exploratory work.
The Impact
Dudek played a pivotal role in advancing the permitting process and ensuring that the project reached its groundbreaking milestone. Once operational, the high-speed rail system will support Nevada and California’s climate goals by offering an emission-free mobility option and serve as an example for other regions hoping to operate similar systems.
What We Did
Next Project
Caltrain Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project
Caltrain’s Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project (PCEP) consists of electrifying a 51-mile stretch of existing track from San Francisco to San Jose by installing an overhead contact system (OCS) and associated power supply infrastructure. The goal is to improve Caltrain system performance and curtail long-term environmental impacts by reducing noise, improving air quality and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
View ProjectReady to Du More? Find out how we can help achieve your goal!