Sandoval appoints board to explore Nevada high-speed rail
Published Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 | 2:35 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 | 3:32 p.m.
Gov. Brian Sandoval sits in his office at the Capitol on Friday, April 17, 2015, in Carson City.
CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval has appointed five people to explore building a high-speed railroad in Nevada.
Sandoval said Thursday that Nevada needs to explore options to strengthen the state's connection with its neighbors. The so-called Nevada High-Speed Rail Authority is charged with leading a thorough discussion on the topic, which Sandoval said is an important part of the state keeping its competitive edge.
A state law first passed in 1997 created the California-Nevada Super Speed Ground Transportation Commission. But it was focused on a far-fetched technology that involved trains levitating above the ground with the help of magnets.
Lawmakers passed a bill this spring that allows the committee to explore different technologies.
Members appointed to the commission this week are banker George Smith, a banker; Fred Dilger, a transportation expert; Tina Quigley, the general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada; Peter Thomas, managing partner of the Thomas and Mack Co.; and Harry Teng, an associate professor at UNLV in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The governor said the members “represent some of the brightest minds in transportation and business development.”
Las Vegas Sun reporter Cy Ryan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.