Comfortable waiting room, including restrooms, self serve vending and full serve concessions.

Covered shelters with state of the art infrared heaters for those cold Palmdale mornings.

Regional bus transfer facility. These shelters are scheduled for upgrades.

 


Steve with his wife Barbara and daughter Kimberly at the Grand Opening Celebration of new Palmdale Transportation Center.

Steve and his family were joined by Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford, Lancaster Mayor and MTA board member Frank Roberts, and numerous other MetroLink, state and federal dignitaries. City representatives came from as far away as Orange County to tour and praise one of the finest stations in the system, including many of Steve's colleagues on the OLDA MagLev authority, who are working to bring high speed mag-lev transprtation from Irvine though Los Angeles Union Station to Palmdale in the near future.

"This was a very proud and humbling day for me" said Steve. "This was the first major capital improvement project I worked on, and it is the first city facility to have a plaque that includes my name."

Read the related story from the Metropolitan Transit web site recognizing Steve Hofbauer, visonary of our Multi-Modal Transit Center.

HISTORY
In the early 1990's, shortly after being appointed to the Palmdale Planning Commission, Steve brought forward a bold vision of bringing a full service multi-modal transportation center to the city of Palmdale. Many initially were skeptical - thinking small - a train station maybe. Not Steve. If Palmdale was to be the premiere city of the Antelope Valley, it needed a facility capable of handling the crush of commuters going over the hill" each day. It was obvious the 14 was rapidly reaching capacity, our state legislators were powereless to affect any meaningful changes, and CalTrans seemed intent on constantly rebuilding the center median time and time again.

Steve pointed out that, while we continue our progress towards making Palmdale more self-sustaining, there is no escape from the reality that we are part of a much larger economic region; one that doesn't arbitrarily cut off at the crest of the Sierra Pelonas. Furthermore, history has proven that reliable transportation between communites has always been the key to economic prosperity. Many residents will continue to commute to other major economic centers, and choose to make Palmdale and other Antelope Valley communities their home. We must accomodate that need, or we'll surely strangle in the congestion.

Researching other successful regional transportation centers, Steve brought forward successful design concepts from other US cities, and pushed for funding through TEA (federal transportation) and other innovative sources. The concept was adopted into the General Plan, environmental and ridership studies were undertaken to determine the best location, a capital improvement plan was adopted, and today it is a reality.

TODAY
Steve is a familiar site at the transportation center. A strong supporter of improved public transportation, he "walks the walk", using the services and facilities on a regular basis. (How many other local politicians have you seen there lately - if ever!) His daily contacts with the public, and his first hand knowledge, through use of the facility, has provided a valuable end-user perspective for someone that has helped influence ongoing service and facility upgrades. You can catch Steve on the 5:19, or sometimes the 4:09 train to LA, often conducting mobile city hall outreach on the upper deck of the last car.

FIXES, UPGRADES and THINGS TO COME

TRAIN SHELTER FIX
Steve discovered a design flaw during our first winter storm that allowed rain to drip back into the train shelters. You can bet he heard about that from fellow train riders! Public works promptly contacted the architect to resolve this.

UPGRADING BUS SHELTER
Steve also heard from the bus riders during his regular visits to the center. It was impractical for many who where seeking shelter from the elements inside the station, to try to rush and catch their bus out at relatively unprotected bus stops. Steve supported the recent upgrades to the bus patrons kiosks to provide improved shelter from the weather.

SMOKING AREAS DEFINED
Many, many patrons complained about smoking in and around the facility. In addition to the general mess - public works staff was wasting dozens of hours each week cleaning butts out of planters and from around the station - many were subjected to inconsiderate smokers in shelters and other areas. The state law prohibits smoking within 20 of any government facility. But Steve wanted to ensure smokers were accomodated, as well. Steve brought the issue to the attention of staff. They unsuccessfully attempted to restrict smoking to one shelter. But when that failed, they implemented Steve's original suggestion that a designated smoking area be created at the front of the station. Ash trays and signage were installed. Although there are still occaisional breeches of ettiquette, non-smokers comment the environment is much improved, and smokers are pleased to have their place, too.

BIG SCREEN MONITORS
New monitors in the Station are a HUGE hit with commuters. They feature Palmdale 27 city info cable broadcasts, as well as special transportation related information. A new video distribution rack is being installed that will allow staff to change information, post updates, and switch content between the 2 units.

Satellite TV subscribers appreciate the ability to view our community news, recreation schedules, and civic calendars. Commuters are able to view various schedule changes, information on the mag-lev train progress, community and special events while waiting for their train or bus. Steve, a regular user of the train station, pressed for these installations following comments by fellow commuters that the addition of the cable and special broadcasts would be a welcome addition to the state of the art station.

WI-FI and ATM's
A number of fellow techno-commuters have suggested the city establish a wi-fi hot spot at the station, to allow riders to utilize internet service and access e-mail while awaiting their bus or train. ATM's are also desired for security and convenience. An ATM was recently installed, and Wi-Fi has been added at the Transportation Center, as well as other city facilities, such as park and rec centers.

EXPANDED PARKING COMING
The City Council recently took action to begin aquistion of the property adjoiniung the transportation center to the north; the old Eidleweiss Restaurant site. Many of us can remember back to hearty German dinners, and Oktoberfest celebrations at this fomer icon before the fire and its closure. This area is slated to accomodate additional parking, as the existing lot, despite its huge size, is rapidly approaching capacity.

TRANSIT VILLAGE CENTER
We continue to move forward to provide affordable work-force housing and commercial opportunites through a Transit Village housing plan. The development will include various attached and detached, single and multi-familty market rate and affordable housing options and various retail and commercial components around the transportation center, creating a new synergy for the area. Read more here...

HIGH SPEED RAIL, MAG-LEV, AIRPORT SHUTTLES
Our Transportation Center is designed to accomodate future high speed rail and mag-lev transportation systems linking various vital centers, including downtown LA, Orange County, and northern California. Hofbauer recently accompanied members of the Mag-Lev authority on a factfinding mission to China, where the Pudong Airport is joined to downtown Shanghai by the first commercially operational mag-lev transportation sysytem. The . Steve is a Director of the Orangeline Mag-Lev Developmnt Authority, who's goal is to develope a high speed link from Irvine to Union Station and Palmdale. Palmdale Regional Airport will be interconnected, as well