Drawing line at rail

“They’re coming through our city, and they want us to provide 2,000 parking spots,” Mayor Gary Bric said. “I don’t see how they can dictate to us where things go.”

The most obvious concern of local officials has been the site of the proposed station. The two sites being considered are along Front Street south of Burbank Boulevard and around Flower Street where the rail crosses Alameda Avenue.

While the Front Street location is close enough to the city’s downtown Metrolink station to possibly prevent a relocation, the other stop would likely reopen those questions, Kriske said.

City officials have proposed a possible stop near the airport at Hollywood Way and San Fernando Road. That could require building a connection to link high-speed rail with the airport’s proposed transportation center at Empire Avenue and Hollywood Way.

Still, the airport option has had issues of its own. High-speed-rail representatives have informed planners that they prefer a station south of where two rail lines converge near Burbank Boulevard to capture local train passengers from both the Ventura and Antelope Valley lines.