UPDATE 1-US to award $3 billion to Las Vegas high-speed rail project

The U.S. Transportation Department is awarding $3 billion to a $12 billion Las Vegas to Southern California high-speed rail project that aims to be completed before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to a senator. "This historic high-speed rail project will be a game changer for Nevada’s tourism economy and transportation," said Senator Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democrat, in a statement Tuesday, who has pushed for the project. The 218-mile (350 kilometers) "Brightline West" project is expected to have speeds of at least 186 miles per hour, resulting in a proposed trip time of 2 hours and 10 minutes.