Action
Notice.
Summary
FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being published for the DesertXpress High-Speed Passenger Train Project (DesertXpress project). FRA is the Lead Agency for the environmental review process and has prepared the Final EIS consistent with the provisions of Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Counsel of Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500 et seq.), and FRA's Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 FR 28545, May 26, 1999). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Surface Transportation Board (STB), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the National Park Service (NPS) coordinated with the FRA as Cooperating Agencies for the DesertXpress project environmental review process. DesertXpress Enterprises Inc., the DesertXpress project proponent or Applicant, proposes to construct and operate a fully grade- separated, dedicated double-track, passenger-only railroad along an approximately 200-mile corridor, from Victorville, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada. The Preferred Alternative rail alignment would generally be immediately adjacent to the Interstate 15 (I-15) freeway travel lanes within the existing Interstate 15 (I-15) right-of-way (ROW). The Preferred Alternative also includes passenger station and maintenance facility sites in Victorville and greater Las Vegas.