Council urges California High‑Speed Rail authority to keep Palmdale stop to support airport access

The Los Angeles City Council adopted a motion urging the California High‑Speed Rail Authority to adopt a route that includes a stop in Palmdale, saying a Palmdale station is critical to making Palmdale Airport viable and to improving regional access.

Councilmember Galanter said the authority's staff had recommended a route that would bypass the Antelope Valley and route through Santa Clarita with extensive tunneling. "If we are going to make a success of Palmdale Airport, we have got to have better access to that airport," she told colleagues, urging support for a motion the council described as more strongly worded than an earlier version.

Supporters said including Palmdale would connect the Central Valley and other regions to the airport and broaden the taxpaying beneficiaries of the state investment. The council recorded the vote after preparing the roll; the tally in the record is 14 ayes.

The council did not specify any legal remedy beyond urging the state authority; the motion serves as an official city position to be delivered to the California High‑Speed Rail Authority ahead of its hearing.