Antelope Valley Press Editorial
January 27, 2005
Finalized AV high-speed rail route historic
FOCUS: The final approval of the High-Speed Rail Line route through the Antelope Valley - as opposed to the Interstate 5 alignment - is historic. This victory for the rapidly growing high desert will be worth billions and billions of dollars for this region in the decades ahead.
 
The leadership of the Antelope Valley has just proved that the impossible will take a little while...but it can be achieved. On Wednesday, the High-Speed Rail Authority drove the golden spike into the official routing of California's super-speed train by declaring the line will run through the Antelope Valley.
-
According to the High-Speed Rail Authority's staff report, the Antelope Valley is the fastest-growing area in Los Angeles County, and the regional population forecasts say the population could exceed 1 million people by the year 2020. A press release issued by state Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, after he testified before the authority board in Sacramento, pointed out: "The Antelope Valley route and the station at the Palmdale Airport/Transportation Center will also help our efforts to expand the Palmdale Airport by providing additional infrastructure."
-
The high-speed system also will provide connections to Palmdale Airport and Metrolink commuter rail service. "The official approval (Wednesday) by the High-Speed Rail Authority is a huge win for the residents of the Antelope Valley. This decision was made possible by the concerted efforts of our local leaders," Runner said.
 
The estimated travel time from Palmdale to the Los Angeles Basin will be just 26 minutes. The entire line would cost about $35 billion and require the approval of the state's voters to fund the project through the sale of bonds. Despite the cost, the 200-mph rail system has been described as less than half as expensive and more environmentally friendly than building the highways and runways that otherwise would be needed to accommodate expected travel needs.
 
Now that the route has been finalized, it's time for a giant victory celebration for the Antelope Valley, where the future has just brightened immeasurably.