FOR RELEASE
Contact:
Janie Sheng (202) 245-0221
10/25/2011 (Tuesday)
Eric Weiss
No. 11-19
FedRelay 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD APPROVES NEW RAIL LINE
The Surface Transportation Board today approved the building of a 190-mile high-speed passenger rail link between Las Vegas and Southern California. The line would allow DesertXpress Enterprises, LLC to provide a rail alternative to driving and flying.
The construction of a new railroad line requires prior Board approval.
The approval is conditioned on DesertXpress implementing 146 environmental mitigation measures recommended by an Environmental Impact Statement approved by the Federal Railroad Administration with input and expertise provided by the STB.
The proposed passenger line would run along the Interstate 15 freeway, with stations at Victorville, Calif., and Las Vegas. There are no planned at-grade vehicle or pedestrian crossings. The project would reduce air pollution, fuel consumption and congestion along the busy I-15 corridor.
The decision in the case,
DesertXpress Enterprises, LLC and DesertXpress HSR Corporation—Construction and Operation Exemption—In Victorville Cal. And Las Vegas, Nev.
, STB Docket No. FD 35544, can be found on the Board's website,
www.stb.dot.gov
. The Board held an oral argument in a related case on Oct. 27, 2009 and affirmed its jurisdiction over the project in DesertXpress Enterprises, LLC—Petition for Declaratory Order, STB Docket No. FD34914.