L.A.-Bakersfield Rail Line to Be Discussed

Caltrans officials will conduct a public hearing Wednesday on plans for high-speed rail service between Los Angeles and Bakersfield via routes that could crisscross the San Fernando Valley.

The meeting will take place at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, 4700 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Steve Michalak, Caltrans chief of public transportation and rail, will discuss a study that examines the proposed train’s technologies, routes, stations, cost estimates and preliminary engineering.

The $4-million study was funded under the Clean Air and Transportation Efficiency Act.

It examines routes between Los Angeles and Bakersfield through two major corridors for high-speed ground transportation, according to the California Department of Transportation. Possible routes could pass through Glendale, Burbank, San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster and Tehachapi.

The study concludes that the Los Angeles-to-Bakersfield system would cost between $170 million and $240 million a year to operate. This cost assumes a total of 20 trains operating 76 trips in each direction each day.

Construction of the rail system is not expected to begin until 2000.

Information on the draft feasibility study may be obtained by writing to Mark Archuleta, Public Transportation/Rail Branch, Caltrans, District 7, 120 S. Spring St., Los Angeles CA 90012.

A summary of the study’s findings is available at the following libraries: Los Angeles Central, Burbank, Beale Memorial, Palmdale, Newhall and Lancaster.