LAS VEGAS AP — Federal land managers have approved the right-of-way for a proposed high-speed rail line linking Las Vegas and Victorville.
The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday issued a record of decision for the DesertXpress Enterprises LLC project.
DesertXpress received similar approvals from the Surface Transportation Board in October and from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration in July.
The BLM says about 821 acres of public land would be needed for the permanent right-of-way, and 95 acres during construction of 185 miles of double track parallel to Interstate 15.
The project also includes about 2,800 acres of private land.
The company is seeking a $4.9 billion federal loan for the $6.5 billion project.
If the FRA approves the loan, DesertXpress officials have said they hope to start construction in late 2012. That means passengers could be paying $50 each to board the luxury trains in Victorville by 2016, making the 190-mile trip to Las Vegas in roughly 80 minutes.
Once construction begins, forecasts indicate DesertXpress will create roughly 50,000 jobs in San Bernardino County and 32,000 jobs in Clark County, Nev.
via BLM grants right-of-way for DesertXpress rail plan | plan, rail, right – Victorville Daily Press.