Anaheim Is Rail Choice

A bistate commission studying plans to build a high-speed rail system to Las Vegas on Friday selected Anaheim as the Southern California terminus but also voted for a spur that could link up with the San Fernando Valley.

In unanimously designating Anaheim as the main terminus, members of the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission relied on a consultant’s report that gives a strong edge to the Orange County city.

An Anaheim-Las Vegas line, also stopping in Ontario, would draw 6.5 million round-trip passengers annually, the report said.

By contrast, a line between the northern San Fernando Valley and Las Vegas, also stopping in Palmdale, would generate only 2.3 million passengers, the consultant said.

Selection of a Southland terminus has triggered a fierce competition in recent weeks.

Los Angeles and Orange County officials view the $4-billion train system as an economic boost, a means for relieving commuter congestion and, in Los Angeles’ case, a means to ferry passengers to and from city-owned Palmdale Air Terminal, which is currently unused.

The futuristic train system, the brainchild of Las Vegas casino interests, would be privately financed and owned. Thus far, however, no financial backers have committed to the project.

The system, would need the approval of both the California and Nevada legislatures that created the commission because the tracks would be laid in the right-of-way of interstate highways.

The need for legislative approval appeared to underlie the commission’s decision to require firms bidding on the system to include a 40-mile spur from Victor Valley to Palmdale, but only if “others provide a link from there to Los Angeles.”

Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), who suggested the Palmdale spur, said he did it out of concern that Los Angeles might block legislative approval of the rail system “unless they get a fair shot at being part of it.”

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, seeking to enhance Los Angeles’ bid, hurriedly voted $225,000 to study a light-rail line between Los Angeles International Airport and Sylmar.

Previously, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and City Council President John Ferraro, both strong supporters of a Sylmar terminus for the high-speed train, suggested that Los Angeles might take responsibility for building a rail line from Sylmar to Palmdale.

Both Los Angeles officials contend that the Palmdale airport is needed to relieve worsening congestion at Los Angeles International Airport.

Orange County officials were jubilant at Anaheim’s selection on Friday as the main terminus.

County Supervisor Don Roth, a former Anaheim mayor, predicted that the train system would be “a big boost for our tourism industry and, more importantly, will be a financially sound system.”

Several Nevada commissioners complained about requiring the builder of the high-speed train system to also provide commuter service along the same route.

The builder “shouldn’t have to bear that burden,” Nevada Commissioner Jack Libby said.

But California members cautioned that the rail plan must alleviate California congestion if it is to win approval in Sacramento.

About 60% of Las Vegas’ 17 million visitors each year come from Southern California, a Las Vegas city spokesman said.