a survey of registered voters that found 56% supported continuing the high-speed rail project even if "its operations only extend from Bakersfield to Merced in the Central Valley by the year 2030 and to the Bay Area by the year 2033." Approval varies by political affiliation with 73% of Democrats backing the project versus 25% of Republicans. An older statewide survey, in March 2016, by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) indicated that 52% of Californians support the project, while 63% of Californians think the project is either "very important" or "somewhat important" for California's economy and quality of life. Support varies by location (with the San Francisco Bay Area the highest at 63%, and lowest in Orange/San Diego at 47%), by race (Asians 66%, Latinos 58%, Whites 44%, and Blacks 42%), by age (declining sharply with increasing age), and by political orientation (Democrats 59%, independents 47%, and Republicans 29%). Dan Richard, then-chair of the Authority, said in an interview with James Fallows that he believes approval levels will increase when people can start seeing progress, and trains start running. In 2008, voters approved Proposition 1A with 52.6%. Las Vegas HSR project Brightline West (formerly Desert Xpress and XpressWest) is a project that since 2007 has been planning to build a high-speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada, part of the "Southwest Rail Network" they hope to create. The rail line would begin in Las Vegas and cross the Mojave Desert stopping outside of Victorville, California and eventually terminating in Rancho Cucamonga (located in the Inland Empire, where it would connect with CAHSR and Metrolink). This route would total about . A second branch about long is also planned going westward from Victorville terminating at Palmdale (located on the west side of the high desert) which CAHSR passes through on its way north into the Central Valley). As of November 2022, a start date for construction of Brightline West is set for the first half of 2023. Further study The Authority's documents The Authority's latest financial projections and its current implementation strategy are discussed in detail in its 2022 Proposition 1A Funding Plan (September 2022), and briefly noted in the 2023 Project Status Report. The Authority's Business Plan describes the project's goals, financing, and development plans. It is updated every even year (since 2008), and must be submitted to the Legislature by May 1. The Authority's