Controversy shadows high speed rail proposal
Part of regional transportation plan
A series of articles reported on proposed activities that would simultaneously relieve transportation snarls in the Antelope Valley, and connect a high speed rail line with another train from Southern California to Las Vegas.
An April 13 report laid out what the proposals were—erecting a 63-mile freeway that would connect Palmdale and Victorville; developing an international airport in the valley; construction of the DesertXpress high-seed rail that would link L.A. to Las Vegas and utilize the proposed new freeway to include Palmdale; and how it would connect to the California High Speed rail line that would link Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Several mid July articles chronicled the actions of Palmdale City officials who filed lawsuits against the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA).
These court challenges allege that the CHSRA was illegally using taxpayer dollars to conduct a study of a potential new alignment for the line. Revisiting the Grapevine route, which had already been studied and rejected, is not allowed by the federal government, charged Palmdale City Attorney Matthew Ditzhazy.
The rail authority contends the Grapevine route would save money and time.
Also at issue are concerns by residents in the communities of Sand Canyon, Acton and Agua Dulce that the proposed route through Palmadale would disrupt and potentially damage their communities.
On the other hand, Palmdale officials are concerned that the Grapevine route would eliminate the already voter-approved stop through their city.
After years of planning, followed by delays, lawsuits, recession and a slow economic recovery, the California High Speed Rail Project will at last begin construction this summer. The first major leg will stretch from Madera to Fresno in the Central Valley, and then extend 114 miles south to Bakersfield. A second portion will run from Palmdale, through Victorville and onto Las Vegas, Nev.
PALMDALE, Calif.—And the California High-Speed Rail Authority issue rages on. The city of Palmdale filed an injunction against the Authority this week to stop the use of state and federal funds to conduct the proposed Interstate 5/Grapevine study.
PALMDALE, Calif.—Two busloads of city officials and residents were expected to convene today in Bakersfield’s Kern County chambers to rally against the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) as it attempts to veer off a course approved by voters.
The Authority wants to revive a proposal to study an alternative route through the Grapevine, but voters approved Proposition 1A to fund the high-speed rail line through the city of Palmdale.
PALMDALE, Calif.—The public will get to comment this week on a proposed 63-mile freeway that will connect Palmdale and Victorville, and provide a safe alternative to a two-lane road known as "blood alley.''
The proposed High Desert Connector Corridor freeway would link the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway at Palmdale with Interstate 15 north of Cajon Pass. It may also be used as a high-speed rail corridor for trains between the Southland and Las Vegas.
Wearing a blue prison uniform, O.J. Simpson testified Wednesday in a Las Vegas courtroom that his former attorney advised he could use some force to reclaim personal items from sports memorabilia dealers as long as he didn’t trespass.
Simpson took the witness stand in an effort to get a new trial on his armed robbery, assault and kidnapping convictions stemming from the confrontation in 2007. He insists that his attorney in that case, Yale Galanter, didn’t adequately represent him during the trial a year later.
