EV Interest Climbs as Gas Price Uncertainty Pushes Families Toward Electric SUVs

(Feature Impact)With ongoing uncertainty surrounding global oil prices, more U.S. consumers are buying and showing more interest in electric vehicles (EVs). The shift comes as car shoppers weigh fuel costs, improving affordability and a growing number of family-friendly electric SUVs.

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According to Spectrum News, EV sales increased in the first quarter of this year. In the same time frame, interest in new EVs increased 16% and interest in used EVs increased by 30%. As families look for opportunities to ditch the gas pump without sacrificing power or space, new all-electric options create a compelling argument for families to turn to EVs.

For those looking to offset their weekly fuel up, the 2026 Kia EV9 can save drivers around $1,800-3,400 per year compared to gas-powered SUVs. Cars.com named the 2026 Kia EV9 the Best Electric Vehicle of 2026 for the second consecutive year.

“The Kia EV9 stood out because it delivers everything we want from a modern electric SUV – strong real-world range, fast charging, excellent space and comfort, and smart flexibility across the lineup,” said Mike Hanley, Sr. Road Test Editor, Cars.com.

For those who aren’t ready to switch to a fully electric vehicle, Kia has expanded its hybrid options. The 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid adds horsepower and updated design features, while the Kia Telluride model offers a hybrid version for the first time with a total driving range of up to 637 miles on the Ex FWD-trim.

To learn more about the Kia EV9 and Kia’s hybrid models, visit Kia at kia.com.

SOURCE:

Kia

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The vision of traveling between Southern California and Las Vegas in about two hours by high-speed rail is steadily becoming more tangible as Brightline West expands construction activity along the Interstate 15 corridor.

Since construction officially began in 2025, work has continued to ramp up in both California and Nevada. Motorists traveling I-15 may have noticed increased construction activity, survey crews, utility work, and periodic lane closures as the project moves from planning into full-scale development.

Construction Is Becoming More Visible

Brightline West’s 218-mile all-electric high-speed rail line will connect Rancho Cucamonga, California, with Las Vegas, Nevada, using the median of Interstate 15 for much of the route.

Current work includes:

• Utility relocation
• Geotechnical investigations
• Site preparation
• Early civil construction
• Continued work around future station locations

As construction progresses, travelers should expect additional traffic impacts along portions of I-15 while crews prepare for bridges, guideways, track installation, and station construction.

A New Timeline

One of the biggest developments since construction began is a revised completion schedule.

While Brightline West was once expected to open before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, current projections now place passenger service in late 2029.

Large infrastructure projects frequently experience schedule adjustments due to inflation, labor availability, permitting, and supply chain challenges. Although the delay means Olympic visitors are unlikely to ride the line, construction continues to move forward.

Four Passenger Stations Planned

The line will include stations at:

• Las Vegas
• Apple Valley
• Hesperia
• Rancho Cucamonga

Passengers traveling from Los Angeles will transfer to Brightline West using Metrolink at Rancho Cucamonga, creating an important connection between Southern California’s commuter rail network and the new high-speed line.

Fast, Electric Travel

When complete, Brightline West trains are expected to operate at speeds approaching 200 mph, reducing travel time between Rancho Cucamonga and Las Vegas to approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes.

The fully electric trains are being manufactured by Siemens and are designed to offer a comfortable alternative to one of America’s busiest highway corridors.

Looking Ahead

The next major milestones will likely include visible bridge construction, elevated guideways, station buildings, track installation, electrical systems, and eventually testing of the first trainsets.

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While passengers will have to wait a bit longer than originally hoped, Brightline West remains one of the most ambitious passenger rail projects currently under construction in the United States.

For Southern California, it represents more than a faster trip to Las Vegas—it could signal the beginning of a new era for high-speed passenger rail in the American West.

Have you driven the I-15 corridor recently? Have you seen any Brightline West construction? Share your observations in the comments below, and subscribe to the STM Daily News newsletter for more transportation and infrastructure updates.

Source and Related Links

• Brightline West – Construction:Construction Plan & Current Project Details — breakdown of the Nevada and California construction segments, stations, track/electrification and maintenance facility. 
• Brightline West – Construction Advisories:Current Construction Advisories — useful for ongoing field investigations, lane impacts and work-zone updates. 
• Brightline West – Project Overview:Official Project Overview — confirms the 218-mile Las Vegas–Rancho Cucamonga route and overall project scope. 
• Nevada Department of Transportation:Brightline West High-Speed Rail Project — government source covering the route, stations, $3 billion federal award and construction background. 
• Siemens Mobility:American Pioneer 220 Manufacturing Facility — details on the U.S.-built high-speed trainsets and Siemens’ Horseheads, New York manufacturing facility. 
• Brightline West – Official Groundbreaking:April 2024 Groundbreaking Announcement — useful background on the project’s infrastructure, bridges, rail, electrification and Buy America commitments. 

Last Updated on August 16, 2026 by Daily News Staff

LOS ANGELES — After years of delays, construction disputes and rising costs, the long-awaited train that promises to transform how passengers move through Los Angeles International Airport appears tantalizingly close to the finish line.

But there’s still a catch.

LAX SkyLink — formerly known as the Automated People Mover — is more than 99% complete and trains are running along the elevated guideway as part of testing. Yet passengers still can’t climb aboard, and new financial and legal concerns are adding uncertainty as the project approaches critical deadlines this fall.

The latest estimates point toward passenger service beginning no earlier than October 2026, with October 6 emerging as a target date in project documents and recent reporting. However, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has not announced October 6 as a firm public grand-opening date.

For travelers who have watched empty trains glide above LAX for months, the obvious question remains:

If SkyLink is essentially finished, what’s taking so long?

Trains Are Running — Just Without Passengers

SkyLink entered a major new phase in April when extensive operational testing began on the 2.25-mile elevated system.

The testing isn’t simply about determining whether the trains move. The entire automated system — trains, signaling, stations, platform doors, communications and other components — must demonstrate that it can operate reliably and safely before passengers are allowed aboard.

One major requirement calls for the system to operate for 30 consecutive days without a significant problem before passenger operations can begin. As of late June, that milestone had not yet been achieved.

That explains why travelers at LAX can see what looks like a functioning railroad while still being directed to buses, cars and shuttles.

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The trains may be moving, but the system hasn’t completed the certification process required for public service.

October 6 Is a Target — Not Yet a Grand Opening

Recent reporting based on project scheduling information has identified October 6, 2026, as an estimated date for passenger service availability.

That’s an important distinction.

Until LAWA announces an official opening date, travelers shouldn’t necessarily start planning an October 6 SkyLink ride.

And developments reported in August suggest there is still reason for caution.

A New Financial Warning

The latest wrinkle involves the financing behind the project.

Fitch Ratings recently placed approximately $1.2 billion in senior bonds associated with the project on negative watch and downgraded the bonds deeper into speculative-grade territory, according to reporting published in August.

Fitch cited the increasingly limited amount of time available before important contractual deadlines.

According to the ratings agency, the project’s lenders face a longstop date of October 8, 2026, while the overall project has another critical longstop date of December 8, 2026. Further delays could create increasingly serious contractual and financial complications.

That doesn’t mean SkyLink is about to be abandoned.

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But it does demonstrate just how little breathing room remains after years of delays.

The Legal Battle Isn’t Over Either

Meanwhile, the relationship between LAWA and the consortium responsible for building and operating SkyLink remains strained.

LAX Integrated Express Solutions, better known as LINXS, filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles in July alleging breaches of its project agreement.

LINXS contends that airport-related actions contributed to delays and that the consortium is entitled to additional compensation and schedule extensions.

LAWA has maintained that its focus remains getting SkyLink completed and safely opened to passengers.

The dispute is the latest chapter in a project that has experienced years of disagreements between the airport and its contractor.

From a 2023 Opening to Late 2026

It’s worth remembering just how late this project has become.

SkyLink was originally expected to enter service in 2023.

Subsequent schedules moved the opening into 2024, 2025 and then early 2026. LAWA announced in 2024 that it expected passenger service to begin in January 2026.

That didn’t happen either.

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Testing finally accelerated in spring 2026, but additional technical work and project disputes pushed expectations deeper into the year.

The project’s reported construction cost has climbed to roughly $3.34 billion, making SkyLink both one of LAX’s most important modernization projects and one of its most troubled.

Why SkyLink Matters So Much

Despite the delays, SkyLink could dramatically improve the passenger experience at LAX once it opens.

The fully automated electric train will operate along a 2.25-mile elevated guideway serving six stations.

Three stations will serve the Central Terminal Area, while the remaining stations provide connections to ground transportation, parking, rental cars and regional transit.

Most importantly for public transportation riders, SkyLink will connect airport terminals with the LAX/Metro Transit Center, finally creating the missing rail link between LAX terminals and Metro’s C and K Lines.

Currently, Metro passengers reaching the Transit Center must transfer to shuttle buses to reach their terminals.

SkyLink is designed to eliminate that final shuttle ride.

According to LAWA, trains will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During peak hours between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., trains are expected to arrive approximately every two minutes.

Each four-car train can carry as many as 200 passengers and their luggage, while the complete end-to-end journey is expected to take approximately 10 minutes. Trains can reach speeds of up to 47 mph.

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The Finish Line Is Finally Visible

For anyone who has followed the SkyLink saga, skepticism about another projected opening date is understandable.

The project has been “almost finished” for a remarkably long time.

But there is an important difference in 2026: the trains are now running across the actual system.

Construction has largely given way to testing, certification and final completion work.

That makes the current situation considerably different from previous years when major construction and systems integration remained unfinished.

Still, the combination of reliability testing, financial pressure, contractual deadlines and litigation means October shouldn’t be written in permanent ink just yet.

For now, October 2026 remains the target rather than a guaranteed opening.

And after waiting three years beyond the original opening schedule, Southern California travelers may want to wait until LAWA officially announces the first day of passenger service before celebrating.

When that day finally arrives, however, it will mark a major milestone not just for LAX but for Los Angeles transportation.

For the first time, travelers will be able to step off a Metro train, transfer to SkyLink and reach the airport terminals without sitting in LAX’s infamous horseshoe traffic.

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After all the delays, disputes and billions of dollars spent, that first passenger trip can’t come soon enough.

Official Project Information

For the latest official information about the project, visit the Los Angeles World Airports SkyLink project page.

STM Daily News will continue following SkyLink as the project moves toward passenger service.

Related Links

• Los Angeles World Airports — LAX SkyLink — Official project page with system details, stations, train capacity, operating plans and project information. LAX SkyLink Official Project Page
• LA Metro — LAX/Metro Transit Center — Information about the transit center that will connect Metro’s C and K Lines with SkyLink. LAX/Metro Transit Center
• LA Metro — Getting to LAX — Current information for travelers using Metro to reach LAX, including the shuttle connection that will eventually be replaced by the direct SkyLink transfer. Go Metro to LAX
• LA Metro — C and K Line Schedules — Current rail schedules for the lines serving the LAX/Metro Transit Center. LA Metro Rail Schedules
• Los Angeles World Airports — Transforming LAX — Overview of the airport’s broader modernization program, including SkyLink and other major LAX infrastructure projects. Transforming LAX