New JPA asks feds for desert freeway funds

New JPA asks feds for desert freeway funds    The newly formed High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Authority, meeting for the first time Wednesday, has drafted letters to federal lawmakers seeking $23 million to build a new expressway between Palmdale and Victorville.
   The nine-member group, led by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, was formed to address congestion issues facing the high desert region 60 miles north of Los Angeles.
   The authority's letters seek funds from the Federal Highway Administration to build a four- to six-lane expressway between the CA/SR-14 Antelope Valley Freeway in Palmdale and the Interstate 15 Mojave Freeway in Victorville.
   Los Angeles and San Bernardino county officials believe the new expressway would relieve truck congestion on the I-210 Foothill, I-10 San Bernardino and CA/SR-60 Pomona freeways.
   The authority estimates it will cost $50 million to complete preliminary design, finance and regulatory work on the freeway. The freeway itself could cost close to $2 billion to complete.