LEDFORD WILL APPEAL FOR HIGHWAY FUNDS.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford will travel to Sacramento today to lobby the California Transportation Commission for $44 million for improvements to Highway 138.

Ledford and Russ Bird, Palmdale's transportation analyst, will meet with the commission staff to discuss the highway improvements. The commission is expected to vote Wednesday as to whether the Highway 138 improvements will be included in the state's five-year construction plan.

One concern is the state has modified the city's request for $29 million to begin buying land for the realignment of the highway to Avenue P-8 between the Antelope Valley Freeway and 15th Street East. State officials are proposing that the city pay half of the cost.

``We want to go up and meet with the members of the CTC staff and get a clear understanding of what's going on,'' Ledford said. ``We don't see a requirement for a local match in other proposals. That is a dangerous precedent.''

The highway designation now follows Palmdale Boulevard from the freeway to 47th Street East and then veers southeast. The new alignment, adopted by the commission in July, follows Avenue P-8 from the freeway to 120th Street East and then goes south to connect with the existing highway.

Palmdale officials also are seeking $15 million to widen the highway and add passing lanes along a stretch from Longview Road in Pearblossom to the Highway 18 junction, 4-1/2 miles west of the San Bernardino County line.

The city of Palmdale wants Highway 138 improved for reasons of safety - 63 deaths and more than 1,400 injuries have occurred on it since 1990 - and commerce. Highway 138 is a major link for Antelope Valley residents to points east.

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Photo: Jim Ledford

Going to state capital