California Construction News staff writer
Brightline, the construction company constructing a bullet train between Southern California and Las Vegas says it has partnered with the High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition.
The agreement with several craft rail unions is for the use of highly skilled union labor in critical jobs required to operate and maintain this historic project.
“As the nation’s largest transportation labor union federation, we are proud to support monumental projects like Brightline West, which will deliver a modern, efficient, and green transit system while putting skilled union members to work,” said Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.
Coalition members include:
- Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division
- Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical and Engineering Department
- National Conference of Firemen and Oilers 32BJ/SEIU
- Transportation Communications Union, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
- Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
- Transport Workers Union of America
- American Train Dispatchers Association
- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Department
- Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
“The High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition is proud to be in partnership with Brightline West in this historic project,” coalition partners said in a statement. “The High-Speed Rail Labor Coalition is ready to bring this transformative transportation project to Americans. Let’s get to work.”
Brightline West is a 218-mile system to connect Las Vegas and Southern California within the Interstate 15 right-of-way with train capable of speeds of 200 miles per hour.
The $10 billion project will create about 35,000 jobs during construction and create more than $10 billion in economic impact.
The fully electric, emission-free system will be one of the greenest forms of transportation in the U.S., removing 3 million cars and 400,000 tons of CO2 each year.
“Our nation’s first high-speed rail system will be operated and maintained by union labor, a statement of the strength of the American workforce,” said Mike Reininger, CEO of Brightline Holdings.
“As the most shovel-ready high-speed rail project in the United States, we are one step closer to leveling the playing field against transit and infrastructure projects around the world, and we are proud to be using America’s most skilled workers to get there.”
Brightline West includes stations near the Las Vegas Strip and in Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, and Hesperia, California. The system is expected to create over 1,000 permanent jobs once operational.
