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Yesterday, five regional planning agencies throughout the Rocky and Intermountain West announced they created the Western High Speed Rail Alliance (WHSRA), which will work to support the creation of a high-speed rail system in the western United States.

The alliance comprises the Denver Regional Council of Governments, Maricopa Association of Governments (representing the Phoenix area), Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (representing Las Vegas), Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (representing Reno, Nev.) and the Utah Transit Authority.

The organization is proposing a Denver-to-Los Angeles corridor, with regional hubs in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver and Phoenix. The line would include links from Denver to Salt Lake City to Reno, with an ultimate connection to San Francisco.

WHSRA plans to seek $50 million for corridor planning studies once Congress passes a new surface transportation bill. The alliance hopes to add both public- and private-sector members to help plan the corridor.