Railway Age, 12/27/23
FRA Eyes Nonavailability Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Brightline West Project
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is seeking comments on whether to grant a waiver of its Buy America requirements to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NVDOT) for the planned Las Vegas-to-Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., high speed rail project. The waiver would cover trainsets, signal systems, high-speed rail turnouts, and fire alarm systems, FRA said, based on the “domestic nonavailability” of such components, as identified by NVDOT’s railroad operating partner (Brightline West) and the two potential suppliers (Alstom and Siemens) of the rolling stock and signaling systems for the project, which earlier this month landed a $3 billion FRA Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant.
Related: Brightline West Receiving $3B HSR Project Grant