High-Speed Rail Authority and City of Palmdale
Enter Into Station-Area Planning Agreement
LOS ANGELES, Calif.– The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) and the City of Palmdale announced today 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 (PTC). 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,” said 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.”
Currently the fastest growing city in Los Angeles County, Palmdale residents have one of the longest commutes in the country according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 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 PTC. 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,” said 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.
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About California High-Speed Rail Authority
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is responsible for planning, designing, building and operation of the first high-speed rail system in the nation. California high-speed rail will connect the mega-regions of the state, contribute to economic development and a cleaner environment, create jobs and preserve agricultural and protected lands. By 2029, the system will run from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin in under three hours at speeds capable of over 200 miles per hour. The system will eventually extend to Sacramento and San Diego, totaling 800 miles with up to 24 stations. In addition, the Authority is working with regional partners to implement a statewide rail modernization plan that will invest billions of dollars in local and regional rail lines to meet the state’s 21st century transportation needs. To learn more visit the Authority’s website at http://www.hsr.ca.gov and join us on facebook.com/CaliforniaHighSpeedRail and follow us at twitter.com/cahsra
