Environmental Review, Approvals and Permits
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is the lead agency for the federal environmental impact statement (EIS). The Surface Transportation Board (STB), the Bureau of Land Management and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are cooperating agencies.
Public scoping meetings to invite public and agency comments regarding the project were held in Las Vegas, Barstow and Victorville in late July. To find out more about the EIS process and how to get involved, please visit the FRA's website.
The DesertXpress has also retained the services of an environmental coordinator, The Duffey Company to provide continuity between the project development and the environmental process with the goal to facilitate avoiding and minimizing potential impacts.
Environmental benefits of the project include:
- Reduces use of fossil fuels, thus, reduces reliance on imported petroleum
- Reduces car, bus and airplane exhaust emissions
- Relieves overcrowded McCarran Airport
- Reduces traffic demand on I-15
- Reduces travel time and the stress of highway congestion
- Reduces the risk of highway accidents and accident-related injuries and fatalities
- Avoids the need to widen over 150 miles of I-15
- Provides a potential future link to California’s proposed high speed rail system and the Metrolink system
- Provides jobs during construction and hundreds of long term jobs thereafter, generating economic activity equivalent to several times more than the direct investment in the project