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Filed under: Arcata, Blue Lake, Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, bicycle, trails
Engineers are racing to survey possibilities for a trail between Arcata and Bracut while state money remains available.
Geotechnical work began this week to examine bridges, levees and other structures in an effort to determine several options for where a trail, or a trail-with-rail, may go. The city of Arcata was granted $1.07 million from the California Coastal Conservancy a year ago, but those funds were later frozen.
…
In other developments on the trail front, the Humboldt County Association of Governments last week directed its staff to spend
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$15,000 on initial moves to prepare the Annie and Mary Trail between Blue Lake and Arcata for development.
Filed under: Arcata, Eureka, Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Samoa, THA, trails
NORTH COAST RAILROAD AUTHORITY (NCRA)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, August 12, 2009~ 10:30
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Chambers
825 Fifth Street, Room 111, Eureka
Humboldt County
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. ROLL CALL
C. AGENDA APPROVAL
D. RECOGNITION OF OUTGOING DIRECTORS
1. Charles Ollivier – Director 2004-2009
E. INTRODUCTION OF NEWLY APPOINTED DIRECTORS
1. Linda Atkins – Humboldt County
2. Hal Wagenet – Mendocino County
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
Comments will be limited to three minutes per person and not more than ten minutes per subject, so that everyone can
be heard. “Public comment” time is limited to matters under the jurisdiction of the Authority that may not have been
considered by the Authority previously and are not on the agenda. No action will be taken. Members of the public may
also comment during specific agenda items when recognized by the Chair.
G. PRESENTATIONS
1. Timber Heritage Association – Recent Speeder Excursions – Gerry Tomczac
2. Karen Diemer – City of Arcata – Arcata Trail RFP
2
H. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
1. Discussion and Possible Approval of Contract between NCRA and Pisenti &
Brinker LLC. for Annual Financial and Compliance Auditor for Fiscal Years 2008-
09 and 2009-10
2. Discussion and Possible Approval of Updated Policies & Procedures Manual
Section 1700 – Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Plan
3. Discussion and Possible Approval of Amendment to NCRA Trail Policy
4. Discussion and Possible Approval of Ukiah Train Station Lease
5. Discussion and Possible Appointments to NCRA Committees
Appointment of Directors to the following NCRA Committees:
a. Property Committee
b. Finance Committee
I. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of Minutes – Regular Board Meeting – June 10, 2009
2. Acceptance of Financial Statements – Annual 2009
3. Acceptance of Financial Statements – July 2009
4. Approval of Warrants Issued – Agency 787010 – June – July 2009
5. Approval of Warrants Issued – TCRP 787101 – June – July 2009
6. Approval of CalCard Statement – June -July 2009
J. STAFF REPORTS
1. Executive Director – Mitch Stogner
a. SMART/NCRA Operating Agreement Meeting
b. Economic Stimulus Funding
c. Federal Transportation Reauthorization Bill
d. DEIR
2. Project Manager – Dave Anderson
3. Legal Counsel – C.J. Neary
K. OPERATOR REPORT
1. NWP Co. – John Williams
L. MATTERS FROM THE BOARD
3
M. CLOSED SESSION
1. Conference with Legal Counsel-Existing Litigation. Govt. Code 54956.9(a)
Humboldt Baykeeper v NCRA, Northern District C-06-2650;
2. Conference with Legal Counsel-Anticipated Litigation, Significant Exposure to litigation
pursuant to Govt. Code 54956.9 (b) one case relates to threatened litigation re crossing
contemplated with Noble;
;
3. Conference with Legal Counsel-Initiation of litigation, Govt Code 54956.9 (c) one case.
Disclosure of party will jeopardize settlement discussions.
N. ANNOUNCEMENT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
O. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT MEETING
NCRA Property Committee Meeting
August 12, 2009 –Immediately following the August 12, 2009 NCRA Board Meeting
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Chambers
825 Fifth Street, Room 111, Eureka
Humboldt County
P. ADJOURNMENT
Arcata Eye Editorial: Berserk bicyclists – April 29, 2009
Click on the above for the article. The problem is a bicycle is a cheap form of transportation, no licensing, and only needing a bit of balance. The end result is you only have to own one. The result is a carelessness by bike rider/drivers.
I saw the same thing in Kuwait with cars. No license needed, and with the oil revenues, cars are cheap. End result was crazy drivers a good deal of the time.
That doesn’t make it always the case, you even the majority of the time. You just notice the bad ones.
Update: Fred has a post on bicycling. Though I wasn’t suggesting we do make them have a license, only this is a result of no licensing.
While in theory there is some benefits to making them have licenses, I don’t know if it is practical.
I don’t like having everything regulated, or having to license for everything.
How would it be implemented? Would people be grandfathered in, or told get a license by X date? What about the low income, or homeless?
We need to encourage the safe use of bicycles.
It isn’t like licensing has fully helped the car side when people can accidentally swerve 10+ feet and kill people.
Filed under: Arcata, Eureka, Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, bicycle, trails | Tags: railbiking
zero cost to upgrade the rails, ties, etc. Vehicles are low cost, less than $2.5k. Low energy for the motorized, or easily human powered. Easily taken off the rail to trun around or to do a meet.
Railriders.net US manufacturer of vehicle that can carry up to four people, and wheels for DIY
My point is we got the know how to make sculptures, that cross sand, and water, yet can’t make rail work? Green Wheels, knows about railbiking, yet will not even mention them as a possible use from Eureka, to Arcata, etc.
NOTE: most of those locations are not cell towers, some are microwave communications some are regular radio communication. The water tower us used for radio communications.
So why then do we need more sites? The problem is each site can only handle so many users. With people wanting so many wireless devices, phone and data, the companies are only trying to meet demand. One nice thing people don’t realize is as cell site density increases, the power outputted from each site decreases. This is because power output is lowered to reduce interference with other cell sites. Less distance to cover, less power needed.
Other wireless devices with about the same frequency Blue tooth, cordless phones, wifi. Microwave ovens are also on the same frequency, except they are much higher power, and are enclosed.
One anonymous commenter said wifi is safe 3 feet away. How many operate their wifi laptops, or other computers three more feet away from them?
Within 4 miles of 200 Harris, Eureka. If you do a search, and actually look at some of the cell cites, you will see some of them within residential neighborhoods. Run folks! Abandon those homes!
Info with interactive map from and at Antennasearch.com
Tower Type ID Num Site Owner Height Dist
Registered (1) United States Cellular Corporation 65 feet 1.05 miles
(2) Pwm Inc 197 feet 1.11 miles
(3) Edge Wireless, Llc 70 feet 1.44 miles
(4) Cebridge Acquisition, L.p. 40 feet 2.03 miles
(5) California Oregon Broadcasting Inc 281 feet 2.30 miles
(6) Pacific Gas & Electric Company 80 feet 2.43 miles
(7) Eureka Broadcasting Company Dba = Kins 240 feet 2.70 miles
(8) Eureka Broadcasting Company Dba = Kins 240 feet 2.79 miles
(9) Bicoastal Media Llc 350 feet 3.28 miles
(10) Pacific Gas And Electric Company 65 feet 3.48 milesNot Registered (1) Pacific Bell 111 feet .72 miles
(2) Blank 301 feet 1.17 miles
(3) Blank 303 feet 1.22 miles
(4) State Of California 62 feet 1.30 miles
(5) Ooh Baby Productions Inc 91 feet 1.37 miles
(6) Cal Autofone 100 feet 1.41 miles
(7) Edge Wireless 98 feet 1.42 miles
(8) County Of Humboldt 60 feet 1.43 miles
(9) Nexrad Joint System Program Office 140 feet 1.85 miles
(10) Cal One Cellular Lp 142 feet 1.91 miles
(11) Humboldt Transit Authority 120 feet 2.02 miles
(12) Cal-one Cellular L.p. 143 feet 2.03 miles
(13) United States Cellular Corp 175 feet 2.14 miles
(14) Blank 288 feet 2.21 miles
(15) Blank 228 feet 2.87 miles
(16) Blank 347 feet 3.26 miles
(17) Eureka Broadcasting Company 266 feet 3.26 miles
(18) Timberline Broadcasting Company 270 feet 3.38 miles
(19) Pacific Gas And Electric Company 65 feet 3.39 milesFuture (No Towers Detected)
Within 4 miles of the North Coast Journal, 7 towers, 81 antennas.
Registered (1) Humboldt State University Foundation 168 feet 1.15 miles
Not Registered (1) United States Cellular Corporation 165 feet 2.04 miles
(2) American Tower Corporation 135 feet 2.87 miles
(3) Edgeg Wireless 83 feet 3.33 miles
(4) Pwm, Inc. 140 feet 3.49 miles
(5) Cal-one Cellular Limited Partnership 210 feet 3.84 miles
(6) Star Page, Inc. 80 feet 3.84 milesFuture (No Towers Detected)
Filed under: Arcata, Humboldt, McKinleyville, Railroad, bicycle, trails | Tags: A&MR RR, bridge, Hammon Trail, Hammond Lumber Company
Unfortunately I didn’t have the cash on me to get the paper. Still though, what was it about? Are we unable to afford the upkeep of the bridge? If we are unable to afford the upkeep of this, how are to afford the additional trails, the three in a row bridges across the the Mad River for the A&MR RR trail?
Ok, I was right. Jack posts under his photos of the bridge:
Capdiamont,
The Readers’ Digest version of the Hammond Bridge story is that it’s rusting away and may eventually need to be replaced. Personally, I think if they do nothing the bridge will last for at least 50 more years. So when I’m 90, I’ll get concerned.
Jennifer Savage
Eye Scene Editor“What we’re talking about is trail with rail,” Class emphasized. He’s walked the proposed line – from the south end of South G Street to the Skate Park – with North Coast Railroad Authority representative John Woolley to determine where the width is adequate to maintain a minimal separation from the tracks. In the areas where a trail cannot run alongside the rail, the solution is what Class called a “rail bed” concept. “We’d clear the vegetation, lay down some filter fabric, put in a pervious walking surface, crushed rock, then a nice finish,” he explained.
The goal is to find an interim solution, Class continued, and enter into a working relationship with the NCRA.
When the rail comes back“When the rail comes back,” Class finished, the City will remove the rail bed, returning the tracks to their original purpose.
Woolley cautioned against early enthusiasm, however. “[The idea] hasn’t gone through any process yet,” he said. “There’s still some interest to have the rail extend into Arcata.” Although he couldn’t speak on behalf of the NCRA, he offered qualified support “as one individual supervisor.” The project “looks like a concept that may have validity,” he said. “When the rail would come back, there’s some alternate ways to move the trail.”
‘Screaming to happen’
Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Commissioner Mike Wilson, elected to the Bay District largely on a trail platform, commended City staff for moving the project forward, especially in regards to the citizenry’s strong support for more trails linking Arcata and the greater Humboldt Bay region. “It’s been screaming to happen for a long time,” he said. And it will, “so long as NCRA can finally get on board with what the community’s been asking for.”
Coastal trail connection
Because this piece would be considered part of the California Coastal Trail, Class said, multiple agencies will likely be involved and hope for funding exists through the Coastal Conservancy. The California Coastal Trail is an imagined 1,200-mile trail stretching from Mexico to Oregon (more information at californiacoastaltrail.info).
Community members may comment on the proposed trail at the next NCRA meeting, Wednesday, May 14 at 10 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, 825 Fifth St., Room 111, Eureka.
“It should be a really interesting meeting,” Class said.
