The U.S. Transportation Department has given the green light to developers of DesertXpress to begin preliminary engineering for the $6 billion, 186-mile high-speed rail project that would link Las Vegas with Victorville, California. The approval, known as a record of decision, is the final step in the arduous process of preparing an environmental impact statement on the controversial project.
http://www.vegasinc.com/news/2011/jul/12/developers-cleared-start-desertxpress-engineering/