Jan. 15--Burbank will receive $800,000 in government funds to begin planning a proposed transportation center near Bob Hope Airport that would serve high-speed trains, officials said Thursday.
The money from the California High-Speed Rail Authority will be used to explore three station locations, opportunities for related economic development and the integration of high-speed trains into the local transportation system.
"The San Fernando Valley is long overdue for a major infrastructure investment of this magnitude," said Michelle Boehm, the Southern California regional director for the high-speed rail authority. "This agreement creates a unique regional planning opportunity that will help facilitate development of a world class transportation hub."
Under consideration are two potential sites on the northeast side of Bob Hope Airport between the runway and North Hollywood Way. A third option is on San Fernando Boulevard immediately west of Hollywood Way.
If built, the so-called Regional Intermodal Transportation Center would accommodates high-speed rail, Amtrak, the Metrolink commuter railroad, bus lines, taxis and ride-share operations, including van pools and transportation networking companies such as Uber and Lyft.
High-speed rail officials say the final location of the station will be decided during the environmental review process.
Burbank is the latest of several California cities that have received state and federal funds from the rail authority to study station locations that could serve the project. Other municipalities include Merced, Fresno, Bakersfield, Gilroy and Palmdale.
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