LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada officials have selected XPressWest as the franchisee to build and operate a high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California.
The Nevada High-Speed Rail Authority voted to move forward with the enterprise on Wednesday, after hearing several proposals for railways and other futuristic transportation systems. Board members described alternative proposals as "cool," but said they weren't nearly as well-developed as XPressWest's plan.
XPressWest plans to link Las Vegas with Victorville, then eventually extend the rail line to Palmdale.
XPressWest has been getting government clearances for the project since at least 2005, and announced in September that it partnered with a Chinese firm to get the project on track. It also said it has $100 million in initial capital.
XPressWest must check in with the authority every six months.