“We are continuing our momentum to make this once-in-a-lifetime economic investment in our Antelope Valley region,” Barger said. “A lot of hard work by many partners has gotten us to this point, and I appreciate the vast support this project has received so far. We are poised to bring billions of dollars in economic return and over 100,000 jobs by anchoring this hub for bus and rail car manufacturing and testing in the Antelope Valley.”
The Center for Transportation Excellence has the potential to generate $11.5 billion in economic returns and over 114,300 direct and indirect jobs, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
“The project will meet a critical industry gap by improving the availability of transit vehicle development and will train the next generation of operators and maintenance experts on new transit technologies,” said Elissa Diaz, Senior Public Policy Manger with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
“By having multiple stakeholders at the planning table, we will create plans that are inclusive and thoughtful,” said Arthur Sohikian, Executive Director of the North Los Angeles County Transportation Coalition Joint Point Powers Authority.
A preliminary site plan for the 2 million-square-foot bus and passenger rail car manufacturing center was unveiled during a prior Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board meeting. Located in the eastern section of Los Angeles World Airports’ Palmdale Airport land holdings, the nominated site is approximately 8.6 square miles and spans both unincorporated Los Angeles County and the City of Palmdale.
The MOU identifies several tasks that will be completed once it is fully executed, including developing a governance strategy among the partners involved in developing the Center and the appointment of a Regional Innovation Officer to oversee the effort.
[Information via news release from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.]
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Frances says
The jobs will probably be minimum wage jobs that will not cover cost of living for those workers.
Save Our City says
That might be true if it is another Communist Chinese company. But Palmdale isn’t as stupid as the folks running Lancaster. Oh wait a minute. Lancaster is running Palmdale. Maybe you’re right.
Angelica friedlander says
Business wise it’s a great investment into saving our cities.
Latisha Davis says
Wow… You would actually fund a 1.6billion dollar rail system. You can utilized that money and build housing units for those that only receive General Assistance and SSI/ Social Security. No one in Cuba pays rent
Angelica friedlander says
Why invest money into something that wont generate money. Spending money to house people that wont help themselves. You want free rent? Hahaha then move to Cuba.
Just saying says
Yes, please move to Cuba. And take the rest of your useless welfare sucking parasites with you.
Angelica friedlander says
But think of all the gas they will save by not having to commute.
Shutup, idiot says
Think of the gas YOU’D save by shutting the hell up.
Big Daddy says
Drag strip?
Myroute? says
I have viewed this map a couple of times now and it looks like they are planning this right on top of 90th St East which is the way I use to go to work, are they going to close 90th from Ave M to P-4 down for this adventure of theirs?
YMMV says
What I want to know is….are they going to extend the railroad tracks out that way?
They will have to in order to get the rail cars online and down into the LA Basin where they need to be.
This will be a boon for the Lake Los Angeles/Littlerock/Pearblossom part of the AV, for sure!
Rick says
They are already about to break ground on two shopping centers 87th and 138 northeast corner and 90th and Palmdale Blvd. big change.
George Santos says
Oh, wow. 100,000+ jobs. That’s a couple cities worth of people.
Unfortunately it is heavy industry, so addressing the usual problems of noise and pollution and roadway maintenance will probably be opposed by the ‘no tax’ numbskull Republican stance Barger usually takes, and thus turn the locale into something like a scene from the very old Mad Max movies.
Careful what you you wish for, AV.
And Kathryn…why not build it in San Marino?
The Wordwiz says
You’re blind, pathological, delusional hate of all things and people Republican has exposed you as a partisan hack and communist troll!
Tim Scott says
Sounds accurate to me.
Remember that running Joke from the Trump administration? “It’s infrastructure week!!!…again.” Even with a republican controlled house and senate democrats in agreement they never could get anything done, because the GOP mantra of “don’t tax, don’t spend” couldn’t be put aside even though they acknowledged (and complained about) bridges, roads, airports, and all the rest of the stuff that was falling apart. Of course their mantra didn’t keep them from legislating the big tax hike that is about to take effect on everyone but the very rich. It also never stopped them from tossing out corporate handout subsidies to the obsolete industries that their big donors are invested in. That’s the GOP; don’t tax, except the people that can’t afford it, don’t spend, except on corruption.
And of course for a more local example just take a look at Wrecks. Political support from Lancaster Baptist bought them a huge payoff in infrastructure around their campus. His pals get discounts on developer fees when they build a neighborhood, and the city landscapes the surrounding streets. If you aren’t his pal the developer fees can break a project, and if you do get it built the city won’t even pave the connecting streets. If Wrecks and his crew aren’t getting at least a 10% skim off this project it will probably die a quiet death.
Angelica friedlander says
It’s called negotiations. And Sounds like smart business to me.
George Santos says
With their anti-Tax stance, Republicans are to public funding like leeches are to fish. It’s not negotiation, it is parasitism.
Kathryn is the worst gasbag out there for taking credit where none is due.
Wiser Observer, Ecologist, Thrillseeker... says
Leeches feed on more than just fish…they will suck the blood from mammals, reptiles, etc…
…anything with hemoglobin running thru its vasculature.
Republicans also feed on anything with money, greedily hoard it, voraciously consume it.
George Santos says
Wordwiz, Triggered. LOL
5th Grader says
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Wordwiz is a * * SNOW FLAKE ***
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YMMV says
Why would you build a giant manufacturing hub in San Marino???? Why would anyone even be foolish enough to propose such a thing?
That’s completely silly.
Angelica friedlander says
Rex says
The AV is already Mad Max society
Angelica friedlander says
Noise, pollution, maintenance. Really? There is nothing and no one out there to be bothered. And how do Republicans factor into that nonsense.
iconoclast says
Palmdale: A Place to Call Home. Sadly, no more.
East Palmdale says
Palmdale is no more a place to call home because Wrecks and his minions have taken over. It’s gone downhill since the takeover. We want our city back.
YMMV says
Why??? Because the city is bringing local jobs?
Are you a sour ex-politician who’s mad you didn’t have a part in this?
The Wordwiz says
Supervisor Barger is a most outstanding civil servant! I will be volunteering and donating to make sure that we continue benefiting from her leadership.
And she’s the only sane member on The Board, lol.
Yves Saint Laurent says
Barger is a worn out 1970’s grocery bag with eyes and hair.