Metrolink Station Project Breaks Ground at Bob Hope Airport

From City News Service

Transportation officials broke ground Friday on a Metrolink station at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank that will eventually provide easier access for riders of the Antelope Valley Line.

Metrolink has a station at the airport on its Ventura County Line, and a Regional Intermodal Transportation Center is being built by the airport to accommodate a bus transfer and rental car facilities.

"With this new Bob Hope Airport Metrolink station, residents of the Santa Clarita, Antelope and North San Fernando valleys will have safe, convenient and economical Metrolink rail service to the national air travel and local employment opportunities available at and around this regional airport," according to county Supervisors Mike Antonovich, chairman of the Metro Board of Directors. "Connecting our airports to our rail system is a top priority for the region and will increase mobility and provide faster, more seamless transit options for residents throughout Southern California."

Metro is contributing $3.7 million of Measure R transportation sales tax funds to the project. The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority contributed $1.75 million toward the station at Hollywood Way and San Fernando Road.

A free shuttle will be offered from the new Bob Hope Airport-Hollywood Way Station to the airport. The airport also has a free shuttle to the downtown Burbank Metrolink station and Metro's North Hollywood station, which provides access to the Metro Red and Orange lines.

The new station is expected to be completed by early 2015.