As a member of the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Authority, the County of San Bernardino invites citizens to view and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed 63-mile High Desert Corridor through Dec. 2, 2014.
The project would run from Highway 395 and State Route 18 in San Bernardino County to State Route 14 in Los Angeles County. The High Desert Corridor could accommodate a highway, bikeway, energy production and transmission facilities and a high-speed rail feeder and connector service to the region.
“The High Desert Corridor will create jobs, grow the economy, reduce the number of vehicle miles people travel for work, and encourage the development of renewable energy,” said San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Robert A. Lovingood, who is chairman of the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Authority.
In 2006, the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Authority was formed between San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County to work on the High Desert Corridor project. The JPA represents the two counties, and the cities of Victorville, Adelanto, Apple Valley, Lancaster, and Palmdale.
“This project would address current and future regional growth and would provide transportation connections between regional airports and the efficient movement of goods throughout the High Desert in Southern California,” Lovingood said. “The Joint Powers Authority exemplifies what can be done when two counties work together to improve their communities.”
The Draft Environmental Impact Report compares the benefits, costs, and impact for a variety of scenarios regarding the project including:
• Not building the corridor
• Freeway/Expressway
• Freeway/Tollway
• Freeway/Expressway with High Speed Rail Feeder/Connector Service
• Freeway/Tollway with High Speed Rail Feeder/Connector Service
Lovingood encourages citizens to participate in the review of the report. The public’s comments will be reviewed to make recommendations about the project in a final environmental document, which is anticipated to be completed in the spring.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority is the sponsor of the project and entered into a funding agreement with Caltrans District 7 to fund and complete the report using Los Angeles County Measure R, San Bernardino County Measure I, and federal funds for the eastern end. The project would be funded by a variety of sources including public funds, tolls, passenger rail ticket taxes, and energy generation and transmission.
To review the Draft Environmental Impact Report and submit comments visit the Caltrans and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority websites at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/HDC/ and metro.net/hdc.
Public Hearings on the study will be held on the following dates and locations:
– Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014
7-9:30 p.m.
Lake Los Angeles Elementary School
16310 East Avenue Q
Palmdale, CA 93591
– Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014*
6-8:30 p.m.
Endeavour School of Exploration
12403 Ridgecrest Road
Victorville, CA 92395
– Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014*
6-8:30 p.m.
Larry Chimbole Cultural Center, Manzanita Ballroom
38350 Sierra Highway
Palmdale, CA 93550
– Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014
6-8:30 p.m.
Apple Valley Conference Center
14975 Dale Evans Parkway
Apple Valley, CA 92307
*These meetings will be broadcast live at ustream.tv/channel/metro-high-desert-corridor.
More information is available by visiting http://www.metro.net/projects/high-desertcorridor/upcoming-meetings/.