California High-Speed Rail Authority, Bakersfield agree on station planning effort

The California High-Speed Rail Authority and the city of Bakersfield, Calif., have entered into a planning agreement for a new high-speed rail station in the city, authority officials announced yesterday.

The agreement calls for both parties to study ways to promote economic development, encourage station area development and enhance multimodal connections, according to a press release issued by the authority.

The agreement also marks a milestone in the effort to bring high-speed rail to the region, and is part of a larger effort to study locally generated alignment for high-speed rail through the city with a potential station located at F Street and Golden State Avenue, officials from both sides said.

"A station planning agreement provides a unique opportunity to leverage the type of economic opportunities high-speed rail stations can bring to a region," said Melissa DuMond, the authority’s director of planning and integration.

Under the agreement, the city will receive $750,000 to explore options and seek public input for the design and development of a station. The Kern Council of Governments will provide an additional $150,000 to support station-area planning.