A plan to build a $10bn bullet train line between Las Vegas and California has bipartisan backing. A congressional group involving lawmakers from both states have requested the fast-tracking of federal funds to allow a private company to begin work on the project.

As reported by AP News, the group sent a letter regarding the matter to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The train route would travel along Interstate 15 and connect to Rancho Cucamonga, a San Bernardino County city that has a station for a suburban Los Angeles train line.

the four-hour journey time could be cut in half

Lengthy traffic jams between California and Las Vegas are a consistent issue, especially at peak times. Those in favor of the proposal estimate that it would cut the four-hour journey time between the two locations in half thanks to the electric-powered trains. They argue this would have a knock-on effect to Nevada visitor number growth.

According to its proponents, the development would create about 35,000 construction jobs, as well as 1,000 permanent roles, while also helping decrease greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. Various groups over the years attempted to launch a bullet train project in the region, but these efforts never came to fruition.