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Trace your travel itinerary on an interactive map

For past, present and future trips. Attach photos, videos and articles to your map. Share it with a simple link.

A modern travel blog centered on a map

Easy for you to manage. Easy for your family and friends to follow.

Your own website

Create a free account to store all your maps.

Share the link with anyone you want. They don't need an account to follow you.

You can protect your blog with a password to make it private.

A map on your homepage

The best way for visitors to visualize your trip is the itinerary, show them:

• where you are
• where you've been
• where you're going
• the transport modes you used

Content comes next

Once you added your spots, you can attach content to them:

Personalized maps

Use the map editor to add your points, trace your lines or import GPS files.

Choose the map style, the marker icons and the line colors (defined by your transport modes).

No technical knowledge required.

Works on any device

Most travelers update their blogs on their smartphone or tablet.

You don't need to install any app. Just open the link to your blog or administration.

Automatic / real-time updates

You can synchronize compatible smartphone tracking apps with your map to update it automatically.

For remote adventures across oceans or deserts, you can synchronize satellite GPS trackers .

Embed your map

If you already have a website, you can embed your map on any page.

Compatible with WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, etc.

Print a photo book

Generate a travel book in one click from the content you already have to keep a tangible souvenir.

You can also download the PDF version to keep a digital copy.

Free for basic features, pay for extra

I don't display ads nor sell your data. So advanced features require a Premium account to keep TravelMap viable.

Stop paying when you don't travel. Keep all your content.

Ideal for long distance trips

Used by 150 000 travelers . Find inspiration from existing itineraries.

Built by Clément Mas. Solo-founder who cycled around Australia and rowed across the Atlantic ocean . Also a web developer.

Striving for a simple, clean and clear interface

Create your travel blog in 2 minutes.

Create Your Free Travel Map

With minimal effort you'll have a beautiful map of your travels to share with friends and family.

Map and visualise your trips. It's fast, simple, fun and free.

Start mapping your trips now!

• Plan your upcoming trips and map previous travels
• Add notes, photos and blog entries to build a rich story of your travels
• Embed your trip map on your own blog
• Save your map as a high resolution image
• Draw custom routes between your trip stops
• Unlimited trips on one map
• Bookmark websites and save them to your trip plan

See how easy it is to make a trip map in this video

Try it yourself!

Create an itinerary map to plan an upcoming trip

Our free travel mapping tool can be a great resource when you are planning your trips. If you are travelling to multiple cities and want to get an idea of which itineraries are going to be the most efficient, just map all your stops out and see what the route looks like. Once you have worked out the route, you can add notes and bookmarks to each stop to keep all your ideas in one place. Also, don't forget to tap into our amazingly helpful community of travellers by asking for trip advice in our forums .

Map out all your old trips

We spent a lot of time making this as easy to use as possible, especially when mapping out lots of stops and lots of trips. You can very quickly add new stops to trips with minimal detail. For example, you can choose to add dates to each stop. Or not. This mapping tool is flexible that way. Mapping out all your travels can be a huge amount of fun, as it's a great way to relive memories.

Add photos to your trips

Travellerspoint allows you to upload as many photos you want. And if you geotag them, you'll find they will automatically link to stops near where the photos were taken.

Embed your map on your blog

If you are just looking for a simple route map to add to a blog post you're creating then this will do that for you nicely. You can either use the standard embed code or customise the map tiles to various other looks as well. A beautiful interactive travel map will ensure your blog entry stands out from the crowd.

Generate stats for all your travels

Some map samples.

Would you like to see examples of some trips people have mapped out? Click on any of the maps below to see a fully interactive version.

Questions and Answers

What are some typical users of this mapping platform.

• People wanting to map out an upcoming trip
• People wanting to map out all their previous travels
• Travel agents wanting to create a trip map for their clients
• People wanting to explore different destinations for an upcoming trip

Create your map

What tool do you recommend people use to map out their life's travels?

The Travellerspoint mapping system is the perfect tool for this job. It can map out lots of trips in broad strokes or in great deal.

How many stops can I add to a trip?

There is no limit to the number of stops you can add to your trip map.

Is there a limit to how many trips I can map?

No, you can map all your life's travels on one map. We have members with over a hundred trips mapped!

What mapping platform do you use?

We use Mapbox GL JS which is a competitor to Google Maps. We allow you to choose which map tiles you use with options available from Mapbox.com and Maptiler.com

How can I use the maps I've created on Travellerspoint?

Once you've mapped out your trip, you can embed the map in a blog on Travellerspoint or elsewhere. You can also generate a shareable link that shows the map in a standalone way.

Can I save the map as an image?

Yes, we offer an easy button save the map as a high resolution PNG. Perfect for photobooks or for printing out.

How long has Travellerspoint been around for?

Travellerspoint has been around since 2002. Our mapping tool has evolved over the years from a simple log of countries to the detailed trip mapper it is today.

Where do you get the travel information from that's used in the map?

We have our own member created travel guide. When people view your trip map they will see content from that guide included with the locations.

Can I turn off the guide content that's included?

Yes, if you are a supporting member you can turn off the guide content.

Can I get turn by turn directions from this tool?

No, that's not what our mapping tool is intended for. If you need turn by turn directions, we recommend using something like Google Maps instead.

Can I create custom routes?

Yes, it's possible to create custom routes. This is particularly useful when you are plotting a boat trip that we don't have any routing information for.

Looking for a Step by Step guide?

This How To Create a Map of Your Travels guide will take you through the process of creating your travel map in a series of easy to follow steps.

Need more convincing?

You can do a lot more than just map your travels on Travellerspoint. Creating an account is totally free and gives you acess to other handy features like:

• A blogging platform where you can write about your travels
• An active travel forum to ask for advice from other travellers
• Unlimited photo uploads. We also feature our members' best travel photos

Create your trip map now!

Where Your Travel Memories Come to Life

The Better Way to Share Your Travel Memories

Wow your friends with an animated travel map .

Check out  one of our animated travel maps created with PictraMap®!

Why is this the tool that you've been waiting for ...

No credit card required, create your first animated travel map within minutes.

It's different

WOW your friends and get them talking  about you and your travels.

It's all you want

Free online tool to create animated maps from travel photos. Ain't that right?

No wait time

The tool is entirely web-based - you register and get instant access to the system. Create your first animated travel map within minutes!

Beautiful maps

It is not yet another tool with Google maps, offering the same old same old map layout. Find the map that matches your taste and type of trip.

Customization

No other online tool offers so many customization options - you choose the map, pins, intro, ending, music theme, not to mention the color options.

Easy to use

You don't need any tutorial because of the super-easy interface - register and within minutes, you can have your first animated travel map.

Easy to share

Because it's all online, you can always share your animated travel maps with the world - on Facebook, via email, even embed it on your blog.

It just is ...

Passionate travelers badly needed such a tool (we know, they told us so). Be among the first to create an animated travel map with PictraMap®!

Are you ready to be a pioneer? Dare to be different?

What passionate travelers say about pictramap®.

I was pleasantly surprised of what I saw when a friend shared the link to PictraMap. The unique way I can create and share my albums there lets my friends and family enjoy the fun moments of my trips. I like the flexibility and variety of the maps, the transitions between locations, and the music scores I can choose from – all in a very quick and intuitive way. Thank you, guys!

What a great way to give life to my countless otherwise boring photos! The maps, the music, the colors make every album special and help add an emotion to it. It's easy to use and the result is a fun adventure I could share with all my friends and family! I know they will love it too!!

Busy? No problem - we'll remind you!

If you're too busy to create your first animated travel map right now, or you think your friends can wait being WOW-ed by your last amazing trip, join our community. We'll remind you later that your travel photos can still get the attention they deserve 😉

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Why Are Great Circles the Shortest Flight Path?

Why do you fly over Greenland in an airplane flight?

Or why is it that when you see flight paths on a map they always take a curved route between 2 cities?

It’s because planes travel along the shortest route in a 3-dimensional space.

This route is called a geodesic or great circle route . They are common in navigation, sailing, and aviation.

But geodesics can be confusing when you’re looking at a 2-dimensional map as they follow quite the odd flight path. Let’s dig into this concept a bit deeper.

Great Circle Routes Explained

In a flight path from New York to Madrid, if I asked you which line is shorter, you’d say the straight one, right?

However, a straight line in a 2-dimensional map is not the same as a straight line on a 3-dimensional globe .

This is why flight paths travel along an arc between an origin and a destination.

Now here’s what the same flight paths look like on a sphere. Remember that the straight line in the Mercator map above followed the 40° latitude line.

This paints quite a different story, doesn’t it? It’s deceiving to the human eye.

The takeaway is this:

A route that looks longer on the map is because of the distortion created by map projections like the Mercator Projection . In navigation, pilots often use great circles (geodesic) as the shortest distance flight.

Great circles vs small circles

Now that you have a visual understanding of great circles. Here’s a definition of what a great circle is:

• A great circle is a circle on the globe such that the plane passing through the sphere’s center is equal to the circumference of the Earth.
• Alternatively, a great circle is where the radius is equal to that of the globe representing the shortest distance between two points on the surface of the earth.

In basic terms, imagine you’re cutting into an orange. You can cut them at any angle – north-south, east-west, diagonally. As long as you cut two identical portions, then the circle where the cut was made is a great circle.

For example, the equator is a great circle because it’s the maximum possible circle:

You could also cut it at the north and south poles. This longitudinal line also cuts two equal portions. Any meridian line is a great circle as well.

From New York to Madrid, here’s how the plane creates two equal segments.

A great circle generates two arcs with the shorter one being the shortest path. Here is the shortest path and how the plane is angled to create the shortest path.

How about when you follow along the 40° latitude line? Anywhere that it doesn’t cut two equal pieces is a small circle .

While a rhumb line track is at a constant azimuth, a geodesic line changes direction all the time.

This fundamental difference in navigation concepts can have a significant impact on long-distance sea voyages.

READ MORE : Rhumb Lines: Setting it Straight with Loxodromes

How Geodesics Work

Planes travel along the shortest route in 3-dimensional space. This route is called a geodesic or great circle .

While map projections distort these routes confusing passengers, the great circle path is the shortest path between two far locations.

This is why pilots fly polar routes saving time and distance . And this is why pilots often fly over Greenland.

Have any questions? Please let us know in the comments section below.

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35 comments.

Buy a globe and figure it out.

I’m trying to figure out what flight path an LTA aircraft (Larger than Goodyear Blimp) would take from England to Idaho. It’s part of a novel I’m writing. Any suggestions?

You’re definitely on the right path and to use a great circle.

I am a layman. Please describe the route from Mumbai to New York and San Fransico to Tokyo through a diagram to show why airlines prefer polar routes?

A great circle connecting two points is the shortest distance but it requires frequent heading changes throughout the journey. A straight line (rhumb line) drawn on a Mercator projection map produces the constant compass bearing to follow for the same journey; which is easy to draw and much easier to follow. Over a short distance the difference between a great circle and a rhumb line route is negligible so the simple rhumb line route is used. However, over a very long journey the difference in distance will be quite significant so a great circle route is preferred.

In navigation latitude is the angle above (north) or below (south) of the equator. Longitude is the angle east or west of the prime meridian (ie the Greenwich Meridian). Both of these angular measurements are derived from the centre of the global earth mass. 0 degrees latitude, 0 degrees longitude is the intersection of the prime meridian and the equator (just south of Ghana West Africa).

When you try to draw a flat map to depict the surface of a globe there is a huge problem; imagine taking the peel off of an orange and trying to lay it out flat.

On the surface of global earth the horizontal distance measured between two meridians along the equator (0 degrees latitude) will be greater than the distance between the same two meridians measured along any other latitude because the circumference of each latitude gets smaller toward the poles so the meridians are closer together near the poles. However, the distance measured between two latitudes on the same longitude is the same distance on other longitudes because they will lie on a great circle.

For marine navigation the map solution generally accepted is the Mercator projection because of its unique property of representing any course of constant bearing as a straight segment that can easily be drawn on a flat map. Such a course, known as a rhumb line, is preferred in marine navigation because it is easier for a ship to sail in a constant compass direction to reach its destination even though it will be a bit further than a great circle route. For short distances the difference between the rhumb line and great circle route is negligible. For aviation the distance is more critical since it directly affects time, fuel and load. A simple solution is, where possible, create a sequence of short rhumb lines along the corresponding great circle route. In the modern era all of these positioning problems have been overcome by GPS satellite navigation.

These days we all take degrees latitude and degrees longitude for granted because they have been successfully used for over 2,000 years. Around that time there were early attempts to measure the circumference of the global earth. Early mariners setting off on long voyages either came ‘back’ or never returned; which for millenniums gave rise to the flat earth notion. The first circumnavigation of the earth was accomplished by the Magellan fleet sailing westward 500 years ago. I’ve personally used latitude and longitude to circumnavigate the earth 5 times.

I’ll finish with a reminder that latitude and longitude are both angular measurements derived from the centre of the global earth mass. If the earth were flat then for positioning on it there would be only one angle from the centre and a linear distance measurement from it… an idea that has never ever been tried and proven.

Taking all of the info from this page into consideration, how could it be used to strengthen flat earth theory? I was directed here because I wanted to learn what constitutes a “great circle” and I now understand. I seriously want to know how anyone could reach that conclusion.

High-altitude flying brings another problem to the fore. It is called “coffin corner” where if you fly slower you will stall, and if you fly faster you will also stall.

It actually makes sense if you go back to the comparison of cutting an orange. Again understanding how to navigate along a 3-dimensional globe while looking at a 2-dimensional picture is why it seems so confusing. And No Cari it doesn’t support the flat earth theory. Not even its own theory supports it. lol. The entire point of this is because of it’s a globe. If it were flat none of this would be necessary. Not to mention the Japanese would still be en route to Pearl Harbor if it were a flat earth. That’s an exaggeration but still, it would have been quite a long flight. One that those little planes would never have been capable of making. In fact, if the earth were flat many lives at Pearl Harbour as well as at both Hiroshima and Nagasaki would have been spared. It’s a shame that the earth is in fact round.

You have supported the theory of a flat earth. Thanks.

My wife just left Dallas for Tokyo. I looked on the flight plan and it goes up through Montana and Canada and over the edge of Alaska. I don’t see how this could be the shortest route to Tokyo from Dallas. It seems more like they are trying to avoid flying directly over the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in case there is a mechanical problem.

Having read all the above I’ve decided to go by boat.

Odd! I was told that because of centrifugal force, the Earth was compressed at the poles, thus making it wider at the equator. The great arc is a navigational compensation!

Meanwhile, the Egyptians, who started all this, still could not figure out the height of the pyramids even though they had Pythagoras. Not to mention that even today there is no certain way to measure the partial volume of a cylinder.

The Earth is flat and south polar centered. That’s it.

What about the direction of the route? Nobody can convince me that Madrid lies to the north of Newyork as they are saying now.

Maybe thats how they conclude it but its wrong, even if it works. the real reason is because of difference of rotational velocity of a shorter vs longer circumference. if you draw two lines from the center of a circle, each come out of the destinations. then draw two lines, one at altitude and the other at ground level. clearly the one at altitude is longer. it doesn’t matter if these lines are curved or not. what matters is the velocity the earth rotates at. the length of a circumference increases by 2 pi r. this means that at greater radius per starting location, the rotational velocity of a shorter radius vs a larger are varied. at a great altitude, though you are traveling at a perceived pace relative to the motor function, but you are multiplying that velocity by the increase in circumference relative to the ground’s. or vice versa, you can say the ground it traveling quicker as well since two point in the circumference have less distance to travel compared to the greater altitude. but what this really does is multiply the distance you travel at altitude relative to the ground. so one minute of flight at ground level vs one minute of flight at altitude results in greater distance. but its only if you fly against earth’s rotation. the earth is rotating at a constant speed, but the circumference between the greater height points travels at length over time just as the shorter one. but the shorter circumference then has less length to travel in that time, so its technically traveling slower. so as you increase height from the center of a circle, the increase in circumference, with earth’s rotation increase your velocity. if earth wasn’t rotating, then height wouldn’t matter and straight line would. 3 dimensions or 2… sure, you could look at it that way, but its over complicated…

Because the time it takes to fly to the higher altitude is not commensurate to the time lost by not climbing.

Let P = pressure, d = density, R = gas constant, T = temperature, h = height, g = gravitational acceleration.

By Ideal Gas Law PV = nRT -> d = n/V = P/RT

By the law of hydrostatic pressure

dP/dh = -d*g = P*g/RT

We know have a first-order separable differential equation. Solving this, we get:

Integral dP/P = Integral -g/RT dh log(P) – log(P0) = -g*h/RT -> P = P0*exp(-g*h/RT) d = P/RT = P0/RT*exp(-g*h/RT)

Therefore, as you go higher, the weight of the air column decreases reducing atmospheric pressure and density. However, the air also gets colder slightly increasing density. In the Stratosphere, temperatures increase with altitude instead of decrease. However, this layer of the atmosphere is above the troposphere where we live, so it has to be less dense. Thus, the weight of the hydrostatic pressure of the air column has a larger effect on atmospheric pressure and air density at least less than 10 km above sea level.

In the real world of long distance air navigation, great circle routes are *not* the shortest *flight* path, but they do make a good start on figuring out what will be the shortest flight path. The article fails to understand that aeroplanes travel in the air, which is moving, rather than fixed in relation to the earth. The origin and destination are fixed to the earth, if the sea and the air were likewise fixed, a great circle would yield the shortest path. A longer path with regard to the earth can yield flight path savings in the order of 30% to 50%, the classic example being North Atlantic flights in the forties, where savings of this order resulted from using Bellamy drift derived constant heading paths instead of great circle routing.

Aircraft need to travel the shortest route in the air, not in three dimensional space. Sometimes that will be the same thing, but not very often. For an air routing, you could use the barometric pressure at origin and destination plus the latitudes. Using these, you can calculate the drift for the entire flight due to pressure differences and Coriolis effect, the net geostophic winds. However, there may be jetstreams at less optimum altitudes that could provide considerable net improvement, even if more fuel is used per air mile (meaning movement through the body of air, not the 3D relationship with the earth), but lets not go there. Having derived a constant heading, it is flown, and neglecting political geography, with no concern for the position with respect to the position on earth below, other than the destination and not bumping into things.

To help with the lay understanding, imagine a rectangular table top, with a dot at each end. Over the top you have a much larger piece of perspex. You have a toy car which can travel at a speed equal to the distance between the dots over one hour. Over the course of an hour, the perspex moves half that distance to the left of the direct track, then half that distance to the right. If we attempt to stay on the “shortest” path from A to B, at the end of an hour, we will still be at A. If we calculate the net drift between A and B, which in this example means following a constant heading equal to the direct heading at the start of the journey, our path will be much longer than the direct path, a loop heading out to the left. However, after an hour, we will be at B. If we change the total distance moved by the perspex to half A-B, purely left and right, it will still take us one hour on the constant heading, but if we follow the direct path on the table top, we will get there, having taken considerably more than an hour to do so.

On shorter journeys in the real world, there are few wind reversals – there is also little difference between a rhumb line course and a great circle, so you may as well fly a rhumb line. Longer journeys are where this counts, and also where the great circle should be of use, but often is not, due to winds aloft.

The correct term is “Density altitude” which is a calculation of pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. As temperature and altitude increase, air density decreases. All aircraft have a flight “ceiling”, an altitude above which it cannot fly. As an airplane ascends, a point is eventually reached where there just isn’t enough air mass to generate enough lift to overcome the airplane’s weight. This is why (depending on the airplane) you might not be able to take-off from a high altitude airport on a particularly hot day. I have experienced this (pilot) myself several times.

If you depart from the North Pole with a plane along a meridian, directly from the rotation point (rotation axis) where speed is 0, to a destination at the equator where the rotation speed is around 1660 km / h , would the plane still reach its destination? From North Pole direct to Brazil(circular arc over meridian 60 W).

Thinner air does not give better engine performance. The reason flying high is more economical compared to flying at low altitude is because the TAS is higher due to density. Thus the amount of fuel burned per nm travel is lower.

You have such great figures. May I use one of them in a presentation to illustrate great circle routes?

Yes, you can. But please give credit by referencing to gisgeography.com

Chris, you are wrong. For air, D=PM/(RT), where D=mass density, P=pressure, M=molecular weight average, R=ideal gas constant, & T=absolute temperature. This is why you need to fill your tires with air in the winter. The temperature drop compresses the air, which means you have to add air to fill in the same amount of relative space.

There are many other atmospheric factors in play such as humidity, wind speed, and wind direction to consider as well.

…and yes, thinner colder air is better for fuel efficiency, but bad for lift. The higher you go, the harder it is to maintain altitude, so like everything else, there is a trade-off. Airplanes are designed to take advatange of the thickness of the air at a certain altitude. That altitude is not fixed relative to the ground, but depends on the weather. So on a hot day, they can fly higher. On a cold day, they.have to fly lower. But there is always an optimum “temperature altitude” for any given plane on any given day. You can’t just keep going up forever. You need pressure under the wings, or you’re flying a brick.

Airplanes need air pressure to fly, it doesn’t matter how dense the air is if there’s no pressure, and pressure and altitude have a consistent relationship. Does that make sense?

Actually, you’re all right, but you’ve each only got two-thirds of the puzzle. There is no direct relationship between temperature and density. There IS a relationship between PRESSURE and temperature and density.

In aviation, there is a concept called “termperature altitude.” So the actual relationship is between all three of them, but the focus is only on the two. The higher you go, the colder and thinner the air gets because the pressure is dropping. For every 1000 feet you go up, there is an expected drop in temperature and pressure, and this remains constant. So flying through colder air is like flying higher. The colder air makes the pressure go down while the density remains the same. The airplane acts as if the air is less dense. Got it?

I too, like Mr. Bir, noticed that there was something wrong with the explanation regarding the density of air. Yes, as air gets colder it gets denser, that’s why to start a cold gasoline engine you have to activate the ‘choke’ which in turn will supply the fuel-air mixture with an extra amount of fuel in order to compensate the leanness that otherwise would not start a combustion.

J Bir, unlike liquids the viscosity of gases inceases with increasing temperature. This can be explained using the kinetic theory of gases.

Mr Bir has it right on, as soon as I read it, I questioned it. But we appreciate your explanation of the great circle route. Good article.

Let me correct you. As the air gets colder, it gets denser, not thinner. However, as you increase in altitude, the air gets thinner and colder. Pilots will always want to fly higher as the low density of the air reduces drag and thus increases the efficiency of the fuel.

Every airline in the world has a business route. This route determines where the aircraft can and cannot fly. For example certain routes over the Atlantic are more costly to make but much faster, the final determination is down to the pilot, in regards to how much fuel he has on board, how delayed the aircraft is, in respect to flying faster than he normally would. This is a very significant thing when determining which transatlantic route to take, because there are at least a dozen of which only 3 of those routes are the fastest and most economical, the rest vary with flight cost. In respect to flying over Greenland, there was a very valid reason to do so especially during the winter and early spring months. As the air gets colder, it gets thinner, and the air thins it gets more and more difficult for an aircraft to stay in the sky. This meant under aviation rules, those aircraft with only 2 Jet Engines had to make the shortest distance between land masses, incase an engine stopped working. This way the pilot could make an emergency landing. Aircraft such as the 747 had no such problems, and could easily fly the quickest transatlantic routes. However over the decades Jet Engines have become increasingly reliable, so much so, that they too can now fly over the Arctic to whatever destination. There are very few airlines who actually use Arctic routes, because these routes are extremely expensive to use. An example of a flight from Helsinki (EHFK; HEL) to Barcelona (LEBL, BCN) does not use a Great Circle nor a Small circle, it uses a direct path from point A to B.

Small circles are not always used for short distances, infact they are seldom used in Europe. Instead most short distances are literally from A->B.

Why are small circles used in short distance trips and not the latter?

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The Importance of Visual Targeting for Driving: Scanning the Path of Travel

To make safe driving decisions and respond to roadway hazards in a timely manner, drivers must absorb a great deal of visual information, pick out important details and analyze what they have learned. Gleaning enough information from the roadway environment requires active viewing, you cannot simply stare into space ahead of your vehicle and hope to take in all necessary details.

Picking a visual target

Target area, path of travel, line of sight, active scanning.

Perception time is the length of time it takes a driver to see and understand a situation. Visibility, the condition of the driver and the roadway environment can all influence perception time. To shorten perception time and allow fast, effective responses to upcoming changes and hazards, drivers should utilize a technique known as visual targeting .

Visual targeting is the practice of focusing your attention on a stationary object which is 12 to 20 seconds ahead of your vehicle. As you move closer to your visual target , you should then select a new fixed object within that 12 to 20-second window, repeating this process continuously as you move along the roadway.

A visual target can be any object that is not going to change position as you approach it, such as a road sign, parked vehicle, tree or building. The object must be in the center of your field of vision so that focusing on it allows you to look directly ahead and absorb an equal amount of information from your left and right. Making visual targeting a habit will encourage you to scan ahead and keep your attention focused on roadway events.

The target area is the portion of the roadway where your visual target sits, including the area immediately to the left and right of the object. While focusing on your visual target, you will also be receiving and assessing information about your target area and all the space prior to it, between your vehicle and the target. As you approach your target area, look out for traffic control devices and changes in traffic flow that may require action.

When you reach your target area, choose another visual target on the roadway ahead. Targets should always be chosen based on the safest path of travel that takes you to your desired location.

Your path of travel (POT) is the stretch of roadway between you and your target area, over which you will travel as you move towards the target. While focusing on your visual target you must still be tuned-in to events and situations along your path of travel and adjust your driving behavior accordingly. For example, if a pedestrian crossing sits somewhere on your path of travel, you will need to reduce your speed and yield to pedestrians before fixing a new visual target and proceeding.

Your line of sight (LOS) is a direct line between your eyes and any object your gaze lands on. Most of the time while driving, your line of sight will be focused toward your target object. It is important to keep the line of sight between you and your target area as clear as possible. As you progress along the roadway, the situation may change so that curves in the road, the landscape, street infrastructure or another vehicle may enter your line of sight.

If your line of sight is completely cut off by an obstruction, slow down and proceed cautiously until your view of the target area is restored. If safely possible, change lanes or alter course to re-establish your line of sight.

Collecting visual information about the roadway environment and scanning ahead must be an active process. This can be a challenge for new drivers, particularly those who are accustomed to using their eyes passively while staring at a TV, tablet or computer screen.

Do not wait for information to come to you while you’re driving. Instead, train yourself to seek out information and look for dangers everywhere within your path of travel. If you practice proper visual targeting every time you drive, actively scanning the roadway will soon become a habit. Eventually, choosing a target area on the road up ahead will become completely automatic – you will not even realize you’re doing it!

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Visual Search Patterns

Knowing where to look and how long for can be confusing for new drivers, particularly when there is so much to keep track of inside your car, right in front of the vehicle and 20 seconds ahead of you on the roadway. To drive safely, you need to adopt a systematic and efficient method of visually scanning your environment.

Safe Following Distance

It is impossible to drive safely and attentively without leaving enough space between your vehicle and the car ahead of you. Maintaining an adequate following distance is crucial to maximize your view of the roadway up ahead.

The Effects of Speed

Keeping speed to a minimum is one of the best risk-reducing tactics you can employ as an attentive driver. As the speed you are traveling at increases, so too does the danger you are exposed to and the challenges you face.

The Vigilant Driver

Safe and responsible drivers attend to vital aspects of the driving environment both inside and outside the vehicle. Being attentive is more than simply being alert – though that does help! It is understanding that all aspects of the driving environment must be closely monitored and knowing how to split your attention between a variety of different targets effectively.

The Importance of Paying Attention

Your ability to fully and consistently focus your attention on the environment around your vehicle is every bit as important as your road rule knowledge and vehicle control skills. Paying attention while driving is an important skill which must not be overlooked while you’re learning to drive.

The Importance of Good Vision

No sense is more important to a driver than vision. As your eyes are responsible for 90% of the information you receive while driving, good vision is essential in making safe and appropriate driving decisions.

Vision Impairments

People with less than 20/40 vision do not qualify for an unrestricted driver’s license in most states. However, there are vast numbers of people with poorer than 20/40 vision who can drive safely and legally under a restricted license, providing they wear corrective glasses or contact lenses. Only in extreme cases of vision impairment or blindness will a person be refused a driving license altogether.

Mental Skills for Driving

The “vision, memory and understanding” trinity allows you to assess and make decisions based on all the information your eyes receive while you’re driving. If you do not receive accurate visual information due to a vision impairment, or do not have relevant memory information stored in your brain to help you make sense of what you have seen, you may not respond to roadway hazards appropriately.

Proprioception and Kinesthesia

While most of the information we receive while driving is visual, our other senses are important too. In addition to sight, our brains collect information about the world around us via hearing, smell, taste and touch.

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In the coming months, the Location History setting name will change to Timeline. If Location History is turned on for your account, you may find Timeline in your app and account settings.

Google Maps Timeline

Manage your Timeline

Google Maps Timeline is a personal map that helps you remember routes and trips you've taken and places you've been based on your Location History. You can edit your Timeline at any time and delete your Location History in Timeline.

If you have settings like Web & App Activity turned on and you turn off Location History or delete location data from Location History, you may still have location data saved in your Google Account as part of your use of other Google Sites, apps, and services. This activity can include info about your location from your device’s general area and IP address. For example, location data may be saved as part of activity on Search and Google Maps when your Web & App Activity setting is on, and included in your photos, depending on your camera app settings.

Find your travels

You can find how far you've traveled and the way that you traveled, such as walking, biking, driving, or on public transport. Timeline measures distances in miles or kilometers is based on your country or region.

• On your computer, open Google Maps .
• Sign in with the same Google Account that you use on your mobile device.

• To find another date, at the top, choose a day, month, and year.

Find your home & work on Timeline

If you've saved your home and work addresses, they show up on Timeline. In addition to Timeline, this information may also be used in other Google products and services.

Learn how to set your home and work addresses .

Edit Timeline

If a place is wrong on Timeline, you can edit the location and when you were there. 

• On your computer, go to Timeline .

• Choose the correct place or search for a place in the search box.
• To edit when you were there, click the time.
• Click the day that you want to delete.

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You can automatically delete Location History that’s older than 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months.

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Video: Place a Path of Travel

Add a Path of Travel line to a plan view of the model. The Path of Travel generates a line indicating the shortest path of travel between the 2 selected points.

This video demonstrates the following:

• Select a start and end point for a path of travel.
• Modify obstacles in the route settings dialog.
• Update a path of travel.
• Tag and schedule path of travel elements.

Use the Path of Travel tool to calculate the distance and time of travel between 2 points in your model.

You must be in a plan view to analyze the model and generate a path of travel. On the Analyze tab click Path of Travel. Now select the beginning point of the path as the first point and then select a 2 nd point as the end of the path of travel. In this case we are analyzing the distance from the far corner of this dining room to the exit door.

The path of travel is generated and displayed. Notice the path is considering the tables in the dining room as obstacles in the path of travel and the path is calculated around them.

Change elements considered obstacles during the analysis in the route settings dialog. On the Analyze tab, click the dialog launcher arrow on the route Analysis panel. In the route analysis dialog you can see hidden elements, demolished elements, and underlay elements are never considered obstacles, in this example we want to do a second path of travel analysis without the tables. One way to do this would be to hide the tables in the view, but in this case we will add the furniture category to the list of elements not considered obstacles.

Enable the additional categories and then select the furniture category. The route analysis setting dialog also allows you to change the analysis zone of the path of travel. The default top and bottom settings typically establish a reasonable analysis zone to achieve a good result. Click ok to exit the dialog with the additional furniture setting enabled.

Place another path of travel selecting similar points. You can see the second path ignores the tables in the dining room.

If a model changes geometry it may be necessary to recalculate a path of travel. In this example a wall is added to the dining room, the path of travel needs to be altered to accommodate this change. Select the path of travel and click update on the contextual tab. The path of travel is recalculated and regenerated using the original starting and ending points. Note the current route analysis setting are used so to update the path with furniture as obstacles, this need to be changed prior to updating.

Select a path of travel and in the properties palette you can see the total length and the time of travel. Path of travel lines can be tagged and scheduled like other elements in your model. You can also use the parameters of the path of travel lines to apply visibility and graphics overrides. In this example an override has bee applied to path of travel lines greater than an allowed exiting distance.

Use path of travel lines to help inform your decisions about your design and make changes to optimize the layout of a design.

Related Concepts

• About Path of Travel
• Path of Travel Instance Properties
• People Flow Toolkit

Related Tasks

• Place a Path of Travel
• Reveal Obstacles
• Update a Path of Travel
• Add or Remove Waypoints from a Path of Travel
• Video: Path of Travel Waypoints

Related Reference

• Route Analysis Settings
• Path of Travel Calculations

Location Map

Where is perseverance.

Scroll and pan around this map to see the latest location and traverse path for the Mars Perseverance rover at Jezero Crater. The goal of the mission is to seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and dust) for possible return to Earth.

About This Map

Scroll and pan around this map to see the latest location and traverse path for the Mars Perseverance rover at  Jezero Crater . The goal of the mission is to seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and dust) for possible return to Earth.

This map is composed of two layers: a high-resolution color map covering the initial exploration area inside Jezero Crater, and another true-color Northeast Syrtis regional map. The high-resolution base map was created with images from the HiRISE camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, while the broader color base map is from the European Space Agency Mars Express High Resolution Stereo camera (the original image can be found  here ). Some color processing has been applied to both maps to highlight surface features. A high-resolution Digital Elevation Model was created from the images to provide critical information for rover drivers, who need to know how steep the hills are as they plan a path forward through this rocky terrain.

Engineers created this experience with software used by the mission team who decide where Perseverance will explore, and how to get there. Each dot represents the end point of a drive and is labeled with the day, or sol, on Mars, that the rover stopped.

Rover Components

The Mars 2020 rover, Perseverance, is based on the Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity rover configuration, with an added science and technology toolbox.

Discover More Topics From NASA

James Webb Space Telescope

Perseverance Rover

Parker Solar Probe

April 22, 2024

Making history: brightline west breaks ground on america’s first high-speed rail project connecting las vegas to southern california  , officials hammer the first spike commemorating the groundbreaking for brightline west.

LAS VEGAS (April 22, 2024)  – Today, Brightline West officially broke ground on the nation's first true high-speed rail system which will connect Las Vegas to Southern California. The 218-mile system will be constructed in the middle of the I-15 and is based on Brightline’s vision to connect city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive. Hailed as the greenest form of transportation in the world, Brightline West will run zero emission, fully electric trains capable of speeds of 200 miles per hour. Brightline West is a watershed project for high-speed rail in America and will establish the foundation for the creation of a new industry and supply chain. The project was recently awarded $3 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The rest of the project will be privately funded and has received a total allocation of $3.5 billion in private activity bonds from USDOT.

The groundbreaking included remarks from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Brightline Founder Wes Edens, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Senior Advisor to President Biden Steve Benjamin and Vince Saavedra of the Southern Nevada Building Trades. In addition, Nevada Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steve Horsford and California Reps. Pete Aguilar and Norma Torres made remarks and joined the celebration. More than 600 people, including union representatives, project supporters and other state and local officials from California and Nevada, attended the event.

“People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades – and now, with billions of dollars of support made possible by President Biden’s historic infrastructure law, it’s finally happening,” said Secretary Buttigieg. “Partnering with state leaders and Brightline West, we’re writing a new chapter in our country’s transportation story that includes thousands of union jobs, new connections to better economic opportunity, less congestion on the roads, and less pollution in the air.”

“This is a historic project and a proud moment where we break ground on America’s first high-speed rail system and lay the foundation for a new industry,” said Wes Edens, Brightline founder. “Today is long overdue, but the blueprint we’ve created with Brightline will allow us to repeat this model in other city pairs around the country.”

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIGHTLINE WEST

Brightline West's rail system will span 218 miles and reach speeds of 200 mph. The route, which has full environmental clearance, will run within the median of the I-15 highway with zero grade crossings. The system will have stops in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

The privately led infrastructure project is one of the largest in the nation and will be constructed and operated by union labor. It will use 700,000 concrete rail ties, 2.2 million tons of ballast, and 63,000 tons of 100% American steel rail during construction. Upon completion, it will include 322 miles of overhead lines to power the trains and will include 3.4 million square feet of retaining walls. The project covers more than 160 structures including viaducts and bridges. Brightline West will be fully Buy America Compliant.

STATIONS AND FACILITIES

Brightline West will connect Southern California and Las Vegas in two hours or almost half the time as driving. The Las Vegas Station will be located near the iconic Las Vegas Strip, on a 110-acre property north of Blue Diamond Road between I-15 and Las Vegas Boulevard. The site provides convenient access to the Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium. The station is approximately 80,000 square feet plus parking.

The Victor Valley Station in Apple Valley will be located on a 300-acre parcel southeast of Dale Evans Parkway and the I-15 interchange. The station is intended to offer a future connection to the High Desert Corridor and California High Speed Rail. The Victor Valley Station is approximately 20,000 square feet plus parking.

The Rancho Cucamonga Station will be located on a 5-acre property at the northwest corner of Milliken Avenue and Azusa Court near Ontario International Airport. The station will be co-located with existing multi-modal transportation options including California Metrolink, for seamless connectivity to Downtown Los Angeles and other locations in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The Rancho Cucamonga Station is approximately 80,000 square feet plus parking.

The Hesperia Station will be located within the I-15 median at the I-15/Joshua Street interchange and will function primarily as a local rail service for residents in the High Desert on select southbound morning and northbound evening weekday trains.

The Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) is a 200,000-square-foot building located on 238 acres in Sloan, Nev., and will be the base for daily maintenance and staging of trains. This site will also serve as one of two hubs for the maintenance of way operations and the operations control center. More than 100 permanent employees will report on a daily basis once operations begin and will serve as train crews, corridor maintenance crews, or operations control center teammates. A second maintenance of way facility will be located adjacent to the Apple Valley station.

The Las Vegas and Southern California travel market is one of the nation’s most attractive corridors with over 50 million trips between the region each year. Additionally, Las Vegas continues to attract visitors from around the world, with 4.7 million international travelers flying into the destination. The city dubs itself on being the world’s No. 1 meeting destination, welcoming nearly 6 million people to the Las Vegas Convention Center last year.

In California, approximately 17 million Southern California residents are within 25 miles of the Brightline West station sites. Studies show that one out of every three visits to Las Vegas come from Southern California.

ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Brightline West's $12 billion infrastructure investment will create over $10 billion in economic impact for Nevada and California and will generate more than 35,000 jobs, including 10,000 direct union construction roles and 1,000 permanent operations and maintenance positions. The investment also includes over $800 million in improvements to the I-15 corridor and involves agreements with several unions for skilled labor. The project supports Nevada and California's climate goals by offering a no-emission mobility option that reduces greenhouse gasses by over 400,000 tons of CO2 annually – reducing vehicle miles traveled by more than 700 million each year and the equivalent of 16,000 short-haul flights. The company will also construct three wildlife overpasses, in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Caltrans for the safe passage of native species, primarily the bighorn sheep.

BRIGHTLINE FLORIDA

Brightline’s first rail system in Florida connecting Miami to Orlando began initial service between its South Florida stations in 2018. In September 2023, Brightline’s Orlando station opened at Orlando International Airport, connecting South Florida to Central Florida. The company has plans to expand its system with future stops in Tampa, Florida’s Space Coast in Cocoa and the Treasure Coast in Stuart.

BRIGHTLINE WEST

ABOUT BRIGHTLINE WEST

Brightline is the only private provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity passenger rail service in America – offering a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road by connecting city pairs and congested corridors that are too short to fly and too long to drive. Brightline West will connect Las Vegas and Southern California with the first true high-speed passenger rail system in the nation. The 218-mile, all-electric rail service will include a flagship station in Las Vegas, with additional stations in Victor Valley and Rancho Cucamonga. At speeds up to 200 miles per hour, trains will take passengers from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga in about two hours, twice as fast as the normal drive time.

Brightline is currently operating its first passenger rail system connecting Central and South Florida with stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, with future stations coming to Stuart and Cocoa. For more information, visit  www.brightlinewest.com  and follow on  LinkedIn ,  X ,  Instagram  and  Facebook .

QUOTE SHEET

“Through this visionary partnership, we are going to create thousands of jobs, bring critical transportation infrastructure to the West, and create an innovative, fast, and sustainable transportation solution. Nevada looks forward to partnering with Brightline on this historic project.”  - Governor Joe Lombardo, Nevada

“Today, not only are we breaking ground on a historic high-speed rail project here in Nevada, we are breaking ground on thousands of good paying American jobs, union jobs.”  - Steve Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

“For decades, Nevadans heard about the promise of high-speed rail in our state, and I’m proud to have led the charge to secure the funding to make it a reality. Today’s groundbreaking is the beginning of a new era for southern Nevada -- creating thousands of good-paying union jobs, bringing in billions of dollars of economic development, enhancing tourism to the state, reducing traffic, and creating a more efficient and cleaner way to travel. This is a monumental step, and I’m glad to have worked across the aisle to make this project come true.”  - Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

“Having high-speed rail in Las Vegas will electrify our economy in Southern Nevada, and I’m thrilled to celebrate this milestone today. This project is on track to create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs while cutting down traffic on I-15, and I’ll keep working with the Biden Administration to get this done as quickly as possible and continue delivering easier and cleaner transportation options for everyone in Nevada.”  - Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)

“Today’s groundbreaking is a historic step in modernizing rail service in the United States. Californians driving between the Los Angeles region and Las Vegas often face heavy traffic, causing emissions that pollute the air in surrounding communities. The Brightline West Project will provide travelers with more options—helping Californians and visitors alike get to their final destination without facing gridlock on the road.”  - Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

"High-speed rail in the Southwest has been a dream as far back as the nineties when Governor Bob Miller appointed me to the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission. As a senior Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I am honored to have helped write the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and secure $3 billion to turn that dream into a reality which will generate millions of dollars in tax revenue, reduce carbon emissions by easing traffic on Interstate 15, and create thousands of good-paying union jobs. I am proud to stand with advocates and transportation leaders as we break ground on the Brightline West project and look forward to welcoming high-speed passenger rail to Southern Nevada."  - Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1)

“For decades, high-speed rail was just a dream in southern Nevada – but now, I’m beyond proud that we finally made it a reality. I worked across the aisle to help negotiate, craft, and ultimately pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because I knew it would kickstart transformative projects like Brightline West that will stand the test of time. Together, we’re cutting down on traffic, boosting our tourism economy, and creating thousands of good-paying union jobs.”  - Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-3)

“I am proud to join Brightline West for the groundbreaking of this monumental project for Southern Nevada and the southwestern United States. By connecting Las Vegas to Southern California via high-speed rail, we will boost tourism, reduce congestion on the I-15 corridor, and create jobs. The impact on our local economy and the people of the Silver State will be tremendous. In my conversations with Secretary Buttigieg, Brightline West, and our Nevada labor leaders, I know that local workers and our Nevada small businesses will benefit from this transformational investment. This will be the nation's first true high-speed rail system, blazing a new path forward for our nation’s rail infrastructure, and we hope it will serve as a blueprint for fostering greater regional connections for many other cities across the country.  - Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-4)

“Brightline West’s groundbreaking today marks the construction of a dynamic high-speed rail system that will link Las Vegas, Hesperia, and Apple Valley to Rancho Cucamonga’s Metrolink Station, creating new jobs and fostering economic growth in California’s 23rd Congressional District. This convenient alternative to driving will reduce the number of cars on the road, decreasing emissions and reducing congestion in our High Desert communities. This is an exciting step and I look forward to the completion of this project.”  - Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23)

"Today's groundbreaking on the Brightline West high-speed rail project marks an incredible milestone in the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to fulfilling the promise of high-speed rail and emissions-free transportation across the country. As a longtime supporter of this project, I helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has already invested over $3 billion to support the completion of this project. By increasing transportation options, spurring job creation and new economic opportunities, and improving our environment through cutting over 400,000 tons of carbon pollution each year, this project will be transformative to my district and all of Southern California for generations—particularly in and around the last stop in Rancho Cucamonga. With the goal of being operational in time for Los Angeles to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2028, I look forward to Brightline West facilitating travel for the millions visiting our region and elevating our 21st-century connectivity on the global stage."  - Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28)

"As the Member of Congress that represents the City of Rancho Cucamonga and a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, it is my honor to participate in breaking ground on one of the most highly anticipated high-speed rail projects in the country. We gathered today thanks to the Biden Administration's leadership, which enacted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to fund vital projects like this and transform our economy. The Brightline project is a stellar illustration of the power of successful public-private partnerships. Thanks to all the labor unions, Tribes, and wildlife advocates for their hard work, which brought this project to life. The bright line is fully electric and has zero emissions, which is excellent for our environment. I am eagerly anticipating the completion of this project in my district and look forward to seeing everyone there."  - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35)

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Map Shows New US High Speed Rail Route

B rightline West is a new all-electric, 218-mile rail line traversing two states and a map shared by the rail line shows its route between two major cities in the U.S. southwest.

Brightline West is America's "first true high-speed passenger rail system," according to the rail line's website, and will transport riders between Las Vegas and southern California. Officials broke ground on the project on Monday. Construction was originally anticipated to begin in 2020, according to a report by Fox 11, but was delayed after the company postponed a $2.4 billion bond sale needed to finance it.

According to a map of the rail line, trains will travel from Rancho Cucamonga, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, and there will be a station in Victor Valley, California. A Metrolink regional rail train has a route from Los Angeles to Rancho Cucamonga, extending access to even more customers in southern California.

Metrolink also connects the new rail line to several other stations in Riverside, Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties, Fox 11 reported.

"Today, nearly 50 million annual trips occur between Los Angeles and Las Vegas–over 85% of them by car–a trip which is unpredictable, unreliable and challenged by congestion," the company said on its website. "Brightline West expects to serve more than 11 million one-way passengers annually."

Newsweek reached out to Brightline West by email for comment.

Each trip could transport 500 passengers, Fox 11 reported. Construction is anticipated to be complete by summer 2028, before the Olympics , which will take place in Los Angeles in that year.

According to the company, Brightline trains are all-electric, with zero emissions and are "equipped with state-of-the-art amenities." Trains can travel at up to 200 miles per hour, and the trip from Las Vegas to Cucamonga is expected to take roughly 2 hours and 10 minutes, twice as fast as the same journey by car.

In addition to improving travel options for motorists, environmental benefits are touted as well, with trains to be powered largely by emission-free sources. Existing wildlife crossings will be maintained or improved and it is anticipated that there will be a reduction in vehicle miles traveled of 700,000 miles per year, removing 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year and supporting both California and Nevada climate strategies.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests that Americans can reduce their impact on climate change by traveling greener, such as by biking, walking, carpooling or using public transportation, all of which "significantly" reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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Brightline West broke ground, now the high-speed train is on the clock for 2028 Olympics

Getting from Las Vegas to Southern California in a high-speed bullet train might sound like a thing of the future, but Brightline West is working on making it a reality.

Construction is currently under way for Brightline West, a 218-mile railway system that will connect a Los Angeles suburb to Sin City, turning a 4-hour car ride into a 2-hour high speed train ride. 

The metal on the tracks won't be dry or operational until 2028, just in time for the Summer Olympic Games which are set to take place in Los Angeles then.  

It took an estimated $12 billion to make this “dream” a reality, with Brightline securing $3 billion in federal funds in December and another $2.5 billion in private bonds from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades – and now, with billions of dollars of support made possible …. it’s finally happening,” Pete Buttigieg, secretary of transportation said Monday. 

What is Brightline West?

Brightline West is a years-long eco-transportation project by Brightline that will connect Nevada to Southern California via a 218-mile railway system. 

Fully electric and zero emission trains will make the trek, reaching speeds of 200 miles per hour. 

Brightline West route and map, Rancho Cucamonga among stops

Brightline West’s high-speed rail will make plenty of stops along its 218-mile route from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga. Victor Valley and Hesperia are among the stops included on the trip. 

Brightline says the route, which has full environmental clearance, will run along I-15. 

Wes Edens to connect other ‘city pairs’ in future

Wes Edens, Brightline’s founder, called the project “historic.” 

Brightline West is set to “lay the foundation for a new industry,” even if it's long overdue. 

“This is a proud moment … where we break ground on America’s first high-speed rail system … But the blueprint we’ve created with Brightline will allow us to repeat this model in other city pairs around the country.”

Brightline West is just the latest example of connecting city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive” across the country, with a similar project completed in 2018 to connect Florida Central and South Florida.

Contributing: James Powel

Green Energy

• Electric train
• Los Angeles

The Las Vegas–LA electric high-speed rail line just broke ground

Brightline West, a future electric high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, broke ground today in Nevada.

On December 6, 2023, Electrek reported that the Biden administration awarded Brightline West $3 billion in funding. The money was part of $6 billion previously earmarked for high-speed rail, and came from the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as part of its Federal-State Partnership Program. (The other $3 billion will go to the public high-speed Los Angeles to San Francisco rail project, which has more than 100 miles of a high-speed line under construction.)

Brightline West will be a privately owned, 218-mile, all-electric high-speed rail service that will include a flagship station in Las Vegas (pictured above), with additional stations in Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga. At speeds of more than 186 miles per hour, trains will take passengers from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, which is 37 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, in just 2 hours and 10 minutes – twice as fast as the normal drive time. 

Florida-based Brightline Holdings is expected to model the Las Vegas-LA rail line on its high-speed route between Miami and Orlando – the US’s only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad.

Brightline West estimates it will remove 3 million cars from I-15 annually, reducing over 400,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. It also anticipates creating an astounding 35,000 union jobs. The federal funding will enable the project, which is aiming to open by 2028, to begin construction.

Rick Harnish, executive director of the national nonprofit High Speed Rail Alliance , said today:

This is a transformational investment in American trains. Getting a high-speed line in operation this decade will show Americans this terrific way to travel. If you have ever felt frustrated by traffic gridlock or airport hassles, a better future just got closer.

Top comment by Al

I'm very excited to see this project completed. I never go to Vegas personally, but I think the more Americans that are introduced to the beauty of high speed rail, the less resistance there will be for future projects.

And why do people profess that the money spent has simply disappeared? That money went to jobs in the area and across the nation, both directly and indirectly. I've read that the economic multiplier is about 1.8, I don't understand how you have an issue with that.

Read more: The US’s busiest rail corridor just got a $16.4B boost – why that’s huge

Photos: Brightline West

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Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor on Electrek and an editor on DroneDJ, 9to5Mac, and 9to5Google. She lives in White River Junction, Vermont. She has previously worked for Fast Company, the Guardian, News Deeply, Time, and others. Message Michelle on Twitter or at [email protected]. Check out her personal blog.

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Politics latest: Sunak facing questions from Trevor Phillips - as he refuses to rule out July election

Rishi Sunak will be answering questions on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, as he refuses to rule out a July general election. Meanwhile, a summit headed by Alex Salmond will meet later to discuss a key vote that could bring down Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf.

Sunday 28 April 2024 08:06, UK

• Watch the prime minister answer questions on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips from 8.30am
• Sunak refuses to rule out July general election
• Lone MSP with likely deciding vote in no-confidence motion to discuss demands
• Yousaf tells Sky News he is optimistic of winning
• Connor Gillies:  First minister must reset relations with very people he's burned bridges with
• Explained: How did we get here - and what happens next?
• Tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction
• Sam Coates explains why the local elections matter
• Live reporting by Brad Young

By Connor Gillies , Scotland correspondent

Humza Yousaf will refuse to enter an electoral pact with Alex Salmond’s party that could have seen the SNP step aside in some Scottish seats, Sky News understands.

The Alba party, headed by Mr Salmond, are likely to have the deciding vote in a key vote of no confidence in the SNP First Minister at Holyrood this week. It is on a knife-edge.

Its only MSP, Ash Regan, is to make a set of demands to Mr Yousaf and one of those demands included her rivals step aside in some seats to allow Alba to be elected.

Ms Regan defected from the SNP in the wake of her defeat in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon last year.

But a senior source close to Scotland's First Minister has said that will not happen. It is an idea that will be point-blank refused.

Alba members are to meet online on Sunday to thrash out their plans.

It comes after the Greens were sacked from their SNP powersharing government arrangement on Thursday.

They have reacted with fury saying they will not back Yousaf in the looming vote that could bring down the current Scottish Government.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News on Saturday, the First Minister said a Scottish election "can't be ruled out" amid the chaos.

He has written to the leaders of all Scottish political parties to seek talks on making a minority government work.

The Conservatives have rejected any suggestion they will support the FM.

The leader of Scottish Labour, Anas Sarwar, said it was "now a case of when, not if" the first minister stands down.

A tight vote is expected at Holyrood this week, where 64 out of 128 MSPs are poised to oppose Mr Yousaf continuing as first minister.

The SNP have 63 MSPs at Holyrood.

Alba has told Sky News it could be demanding a pact which would see Yousaf having to agree to only one pro-independence candidate standing in each constituency.

Asked if that would happen, a source close to the First Minister said: "No."

A summit headed by Alex Salmond will meet later to discuss a key vote that could bring down Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf.  

Mr Salmond's Alba Party, which has Ash Regan as its only MSP, is likely to have the deciding vote in a motion of no confidence against the SNP leader at Holyrood this week.

Ms Regan is expected to discuss her demands of Mr Yousaf when party members gather today.

Sky News understands discussions will take place online ahead of a possible meeting between the former SNP leadership rivals as early as Monday.

Mr Salmond said a "top line" of any discussion with Mr Yousaf would be the idea of partially reviving the Scotland United strategy – which would see a single pro-independence candidate stand in each Scottish constituency.

But Mr Yousaf's spokesperson has dismissed the idea of an electoral pact with the Alba Party to gain its support in the no-confidence vote as "fantasy."

Meanwhile, the Alba Party's Westminster leader, Neale Hanvey, said the party is "not saying we are going to save" Mr Yousaf.

He told Times Radio that the party has "come to absolutely no firm conclusion" about whether to support him.

Mr Yousaf faces a no confidence vote, tabled by the Scottish Conservatives, after he terminated the powersharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday.

Scottish Labour has tabled a vote of no confidence in the Scottish Government as a whole.

Thursday's elections will have more than 2,600 seats at stake across 107 English councils. Labour's Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham are among the 10 mayors up for re-election.

Those in Blackpool South will also be voting for their next MP after ex-Tory Scott Benton broke Commons lobbying rules, triggering a by-election.

With the Conservatives lagging behind Labour in the polls, the outcome will offer some insight on how voters in England and Wales feel ahead of the general election.

On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates to discuss why the elections are so important for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's future and where the key political battlegrounds are.

By Jennifer Scott , politics reporter

Rishi Sunak has failed to rule out holding a general election in July, as speculation remains rife over the timing of the national vote. 

The prime minister has repeatedly said his "working assumption" is the election would take place in the second half of this year - with the law stating January 2025 is the latest he could call it.

But while many commentators have predicted an autumn vote, Sky News' Trevor Phillips put to Mr Sunak that it could mean as early as July.

"Well, look, when it comes to a general election, I've been very clear about that multiple times," the prime minister said.

"And again, I'm not going to say anything more than I've already said, I've been very clear about that."

Phillips pushed Mr Sunak five times over whether he would rule out a July general election, but the Conservative leader refused to confirm or deny if it could take place then.

"You're going to try and draw whatever conclusion you want from what I say," he said. "I'm going to always try and say the same thing. You should just listen to what I said, [the] same thing I’ve said all year.

"But the point is... there's a choice when it comes to the general election. And look, over the past week or so... the country can have a very clear sense of what that difference is going to look like."

You can watch his full interview from 8.30am at the top of the page.

Read on here...

Good morning!

Welcome back to the Politics Hub for another busy Sunday in Westminster.

From 8.30am, we'll be live with  Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips .

Here's what you need to know before then:

• Rishi Sunak has failed to rule out holding a general election in July, as speculation remains rife over the timing;
• A summit headed by Alex Salmond will meet later to discuss a key vote that could bring down Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf;  
• Pressure has piled on the prime minister after Conservative MP and former health minister Dan Poulter defected to Labour in frustration at the worsening NHS crisis;
• Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for everyone over 70 and those with long-term health conditions to be given access to a named GP.

And here's who is joining Phillips this morning

• Prime Minister  Rishi Sunak
• Labour's shadow health secretary  Wes Streeting
• Former Tory immigration minister  Robert Jenrick
• Pollster  Peter Kellner

Embattled Humza Yousaf has told Sky News he will not resign as Scotland's first minister.

Pressure has been building on  the SNP leader  after he tore up the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens - prompting a no-confidence motion in his leadership and a threatened knife-edge vote.

However, Mr Yousaf, on a visit to Dundee that was arranged at short notice after he pulled out of a speech in Glasgow, insisted he was getting on with the job and accused the opposition of "playing games".

He said he would be writing to the leaders of all Scottish political parties to seek talks on making a minority government work.

He told Sky's Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies : "I intend absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence, I've got every intention of winning that vote of no confidence.

"And let me say to the opposition for minority government to work in the interest of the people of Scotland also requires the opposition to act in good faith."

Humza Yousaf's future as first minister is hanging in the balance ahead of a motion of no confidence next week.

Now, as leader of a minority government, his fate may be hanging on just one vote - that of a former SNP leadership rival. 

We take a look at how:

The numbers

In the Scottish parliament, the SNP has 63 seats out of 129 , two short of an outright majority;

The Conservatives have  31;

Labour has 22;

The Greens have  seven;

The Liberal Democrats have four;

The Alba Party has one ;

There is also one presiding officer Alison Johnstone, who is both an MSP and Scotland's equivalent of the Commons speaker.

How the numbers are expected to fall

The motion of no confidence was brought by the Scottish Conservatives.

The Greens, Labour and the Lib Dems have all said they are backing the motion.

That would translate into 64 votes against the first minister versus 63 SNP votes.

So the one Alba vote is expected to be key.

How it may all come down to one ... Ash Regan

Once an SNP leadership rival to Mr Yousaf, Ash Regan defected to Alex Salmond's Alba Party last October. 

If she backs Mr Yousaf then that would mean both sides have 64 votes.

Ms Johnstone would then be expected to vote in favour of the status quo, so the first minister would survive.

But if Ms Regan votes against Mr Yousaf, then the opposition parties will have 65 votes against the SNP's 63, and the first minister would lose.

He wouldn't be compelled to resign in this situation, but he'd be under huge pressure to step aside.

More to come

And remember, Scottish Labour have lodged a separate motion of no confidence in the Scottish government. 

Alba have said it won't back that motion.

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf is battling to save his job as he faces a knife-edge no-confidence vote.

The SNP leader triggered a crisis at Holyrood after he dramatically brought the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens to an end.

The backlash has plunged Mr Yousaf's future into doubt, although party colleagues insist he will not resign.

How did we get here?

The Bute House Agreement - signed back in 2021 and named after the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh - brought the Green Party into government for the first time anywhere in the UK.

It gave the SNP a majority at Holyrood when the votes of its MSPs were combined with those of the seven Green members, and also made Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater junior ministers.

Without it, the SNP would need to have operated as a minority administration at Holyrood.

What caused the relationship to sour?

There had been mounting tensions between the largest party at Holyrood and their junior partners in government.

The Greens were angered at the SNP-led administration's recent decision to ditch a key climate change target.

That, combined with the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers to under-18s at at Scotland's only gender clinic, resulted in the Greens announcing they would have a vote on the future of the power-sharing deal. 

Read more here:

Rishi Sunak  sits down this Sunday with Trevor Phillips for a wide-ranging interview ahead of the local elections.

With the Rwanda bill becoming law this week and the PM announcing a commitment to increase defence spending, there's been plenty to talk about.

You can watch it in full from 8.30am on Sunday .

Trevor will also be joined by Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting .

The 2 May local elections will see more than 2,600 seats at stake across 107 English councils.

Labour's Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham are among the 10 mayors up for re-election.  

Those in Blackpool South will also be voting for their next MP after ex-Tory Scott Benton broke Commons lobbying rules, triggering a by-election.  

With the Conservatives lagging behind Labour in the polls, the outcome will offer some insight on how voters in England and Wales feel ahead of the general election.

On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by deputy political editor Sam Coates to discuss why the elections are so important for the prime minister's future and where the key political backgrounds are.

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