Board ponders transportation tech site | News | avpress.com – Antelope Valley Press

The proposed center would be developed in two components, with an approximately seven-mile track loop needed for rail test tracks and approximately 500,000 square feet of testing, research and training facilities, as well as approximately 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing facilities (comprised of separate facilities for light rail, heavy rail and buses, inclusive of assembly bays, warehouse space, office space and assembly tracks), according to Barger’s proposed recommendation.

The property site on the far east of LA World Airports’ Palmdale landholding is about 8.6 square miles and spans the city and unincorporated portions of the county. In addition, it is owned by one public property owner and is in close proximity to the proposed High Desert Corridor and Palmdale Metrolink station.

“The Antelope Valley is an ideal location for siting the center, given the high concentration of skilled labor in the manufacturing, aerospace and logistics sectors and the disproportionate rates of unemployment,” the recommendation said. “Despite this concentration of skilled labor, Palmdale and Lancaster have unemployment rates of 7.3% … compared to Los Angeles County’s rate of 5.3%, reflecting the need for additional workforce development and job opportunities.”

The proposed center could create an estimated 114,310 direct and indirectly generated jobs and generate an estimated $11.5 billion in economic return and impact including $6.7 billion in retail and wholesale sales over the first 10 years, according to Barger’s recommendation.

Barger’s proposed memorandum of understanding would outline the shared objectives between the county, Metro and the city of Palmdale to lead the effort to help advance the proposed project.

The board is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in board hearing room 381B at Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration 500 West Temple St. in downtown Los Angeles.

To participate by phone, call 877-226-8163. Use participant code 1336503. To listen by telephone only call 877-873-8017, use Access Code 111111 for English and 222222 for Spanish.

The proposed Memorandum of Understanding is item No. 3 on the consent calendar.