Report Gives Anaheim Edge as Vegas Super Train Terminus

A consultant’s report released Friday gives a strong edge to Anaheim over the north San Fernando Valley and other communities proposed as the Southern California terminus for a $4-billion, high-speed super train to Las Vegas.

Ridership for an Anaheim-to-Las Vegas line is projected to be as much as 5.7 million a year, compared to a maximum of 2.3 million annually for a line between Nevada and either Sylmar or Mission Hills, according to consultants hired by the California-Nevada Super Speed Ground Transportation Commission.

The commission was created by the California and Nevada legislatures to examine the high-speed train proposal. The report comes just as Mayor Tom Bradley and Los Angeles City Council President John Ferraro have stepped up lobbying on behalf of the Valley terminus. They favor the train primarily as a way to ferry airline passengers to the city-owned Palmdale Air Terminal to relieve Los Angeles International and Burbank airports.

Earlier in the day, William Bicker, Bradley’s transportation deputy, said: “The mayor has told me twice lately that he is very serious about this, and he wants it.”

Another city official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that regardless of what the commission decides, the route must be approved by the Legislature. “I think we have the votes there,” the official said. “We sure have the votes to block another route.”