LOS ANGELES – The California High-Speed Rail Authority and the city of Palmdale announced Monday that they have entered into a station-area funding agreement, allowing the city and the Authority to initiate the planning process for the proposed high-speed rail station adjacent to the civic center and the Palmdale Transportation Center.
This agreement allows both parties to study ways to promote economic development, encourage station area development and enhance multimodal connections between the station and the city.
“The development of a high-speed rail system is a game-changer for Palmdale and all of the communities in the Antelope Valley,” stated Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “We’re working very closely with the Authority to deliver this project as quickly as possible, and one of the key steps is this station planning component. From the economic development opportunities to the shops, services, housing and jobs this station complex will provide, we’re eager to get this station planned and built with trains providing critical and essential mobility for our residents.”
As part of this agreement with the Authority, the city of Palmdale will receive $600,000 in grants to explore options and seek public input for the design and development of the Palmdale Transportation Center. The money will support planning efforts focused on both the integration of the high-speed rail station into the region and the analysis of opportunities to promote economic development and sustainable community strategies.
“We’re thrilled to work with the city of Palmdale to develop a high-speed rail station that will not only help the city thrive economically, but also cut down the commute time significantly for workers heading to Burbank and Los Angeles,” stated Dan Richard, Authority Board Chairman. “Palmdale is a growing region and high-speed rail will help meet those demands with an efficient and cleaner mode of transportation.”
The Authority provides station-area funds through a combination of federal and state funds to help partner cities conduct planning efforts and develop conceptual designs for high-speed rail stations in their communities.
Other partner cities that have entered into similar agreements with the Authority include Fresno, Gilroy and Merced. Discussions are currently underway with more high-speed rail station cities, including Burbank.
[Information via news release from the California High-Speed Rail Authority.]
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Marie says
Doesn’t hurt to study a problem and our overcrowded freeways and lack of public transportation is a problem. High speed rail would reduce the affects of those problems.
William says
I once read an article in the Los Angeles Times back in the 80s about mass transit.
The author was driving south on the I-5 near Anaheim when the traffic came to a standstill. As he crawled along for a few miles, he realized that that jam was due to cars taking the exit to Disneyland.
Disneyland??? So?
He then realized that the reason people go to Disneyland was to ride ‘mass transit’ such as the monorail, the Matterhorn, and various other rides.
Why? Because it was fun.
He concluded that mass transit should be fun to use. Hopefully, the High Speed Rail will be comfortable and enjoyable to use as long as they don’t play “It’s A Small World” in the cars or the stations.