The County of San Bernardino, County of Los Angeles, and the Cities of Adelanto, Victorville, Apple Valley, Lancaster, and Palmdale have formed a Joint Power Authority (JPA) to develop a new freeway/expressway from SR14 to I-15. The High Desert Corridor (HDC) began as a proposed highway project connecting the counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino. However, through the leadership of the HDC Joint Powers Authority together with Metro, SANBAG and Caltrans, the HDC has evolved into a proposed multipurpose corridor that could connect Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County with Victor Valley in San Bernardino County. Consequently, the HDC study also considers how a high-speed rail connection, a bikeway and green energy element may be integrated to create a truly sustainable project.
The purpose of the HDC is to improve east-west mobility within the High Desert region of Southern California by addressing present and future travel demands and mobility needs. The HDC also aims to improve travel safety and reliability, while connecting residential, commercial and industrial areas in the Antelope and Victor Valleys, including the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Adelanto, Victorville and the Town of Apple Valley. The HDC environmental and technical studies will consider the importance of improved access and connectivity to regional transportation facilities, including airports, existing passenger rail and future high-speed rail systems.
As envisioned, the multipurpose nature of the proposed HDC has the potential to bring a number of added benefits, including: creation of valuable jobs in the desert region that could help limit the number of vehicle miles traveled into the Los Angeles basin for work; establish the potential for creation of inland ports along the HDC that would provide needed congestion relief for the region; and stimulate the development of green energy strategies for surrounding land uses and infrastructure.
The environmental clearance (CEQA and NEPA) for the project was completed and certified in June 2016. The project is "shovel ready". Please see the
brochure for more information.
Members
Chair Kathryn Barger, Supervisor, Los Angeles County Fifth District
Vice Chair Col. Paul Cook (Ret.), Supervisor, San Bernardino
County First District
Board Member Ara Najarian, Council Member, City of Glendale
Board Member Darrell Dorris, Council Member, City of Lancaster
Board Member Steven D. Hofbauer, Mayor, City of Palmdale
Board Member Gabriel Reyes, Mayor, City of Adelanto
Board Member Debra Jones, Mayor, City of Victorville
Board Member Scott Nassif, Council Member, Town of Apple Valley