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Filed under: Arcata, Eureka, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, NCRA, Napa Valley, North Coast Railroad, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Novato, Railroad, SMART, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Ukiah, Union Pacific, bicycle, trails, transit
North Coast Railroad Authority has extended the comment period for the recirculated Draft EIR to 5:00 p.m. January 14, 2010.
Green Wheels:An Update on the Eureka-Arcata 101 Improvement Project
In the grand scheme of regional non-motorized connectivity between cities, the 101 is at the top of the list. If built, the 101 Eureka-Arcata Corridor Improvement Project has the potential to negatively impact trail development between Arcata and Eureka. Designing “improvements” for the 101 without certain accommodation for the Humboldt Bay Trail— a future portion of the California Coastal Trail (SB908)— could potentially hem us in. The proposed Humboldt Bay Trail will likely fall on either Caltrans right of way or the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) right-of-way. So, any development along the 101 that increases the width of 101 could impact our ability to have a Rail-with-Trail. This leaves us with our other option, Rail-to-Trail, not only a harder sell among railroad stalwarts, but a cue to Caltrans that this issue cannot be talked about in isolation from the HBT.
The NCRA and Caltrans share another issue in common—sea level rise—which goes hand in hand with trail design as well. To protect the highway from rising sea levels, either the entire highway needs to be elevated, or the railroad prism needs to be enhanced to act as a levy. If Caltrans chooses to enhance the railroad prism as a levy, it makes fiscal sense to do it in a way that accommodates the proposed Class I multi-use trail on the levy. If they choose to raise the level of 101, either gradually as it undergoes maintenance, or as part of this project, Caltrans musti establish that a Class I multi-use trail is fully feasible outside the Caltrans right-of-way in the face of wetland constraints and sea level rise challenges to the trail, or must accommodate the trail within its right-of-way and protect it, along with the highway facility from sea level rise. This will require Caltrans to conduct design, engineering and permitting for the trail to fully establish its feasibility.
MIJ: Report: Alto Hill Tunnel reopening carries big price tag
The $225,000 study, paid for with federal funds, will be discussed at a meeting Wednesday in Mill Valley.
It estimates reopening the half-mile Alto Tunnel between the two communities would cost $48 million to $52 million, which would include adding a 10-foot-wide bike path and an 8-foot-wide pedestrian walkway.
SRPD: Public makes pitch for SMART train features
It’s their trains, and the public at a Wednesday night workshop made it clear what they would like the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit cars to look like.
An open letter from Wine Train to Sen. McCain
It worries me that no calls were made before we were held up to the entire American public — a small business in Northern California — as an enormous source of government waste.
If you had spoken with us, or even project officials, you might have asked: Why would the Napa Valley Wine Train need, or take,$54 million in taxpayer money to move a small section of rail line 33 feet? The answer is: We didn’t!
So, who does? Napa County has an award-winning flood control project and design; one that was proposed, and approved by voters, many years ago. This is the project that is being funded. That design has impacted a lot of businesses. It has necessitated the movement of several rights-of-way, and at my last count four or five bridges (including the Wine Train’s). The goal of this project is to protect the city of Napa from continued flooding, period, not enhance specific companies.
SRPD: SMART gets $2.5 million for commute-rail work
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit district has received $2.5 million in federal funds for preliminary engineering and environmental work on its planned commuter rail line.
SRPD: Builder, taxpayer groups protest SMART deal
Leaders of the North Coast Builders Exchange and the Sonoma County Taxpayers Association demanded Wednesday that SMART directors put a stop to negotiations between their Railroad Square project developer and a group representing labor and environmental interests.
UDJ: Possible sites for new courthouse discussed
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“It’s a classic win-win, because we would have enough property for freight and passenger service in the future, and the land could be used for an important public service,” Stogner said.
The site used to be a railroad maintenance yard, and the land was contaminated when the NCRA bought it from Pacific Union Railroad in 1996, according to Stogner. He said a study needs to be done to determine what the contamination is and how to go about cleaning up the site.
“They (Pacific Union) have until 2013,” Stogner said. “Whatever is done with the property, the cleanup responsibility will have to be assigned by the purchaser, or worked out with the responsible party, which is Union Pacific Railroad.”
The AOC expects to complete the new Ukiah courthouse by 2015, and planned $5.6 million for property acquisition.
Stogner said another hurdle to jump for locating at the depot site is that the NCRA needs permission to sell the land from Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration, which contributed money for the purchase.
MIJ: Not all on board for high-density housing near rail stations
Last week the Metropolitan Transportation Commission handed out $1.8 million to cities to provide financial support “for planning processes that seek to increase transit ridership by maximizing the development potential around current or future transit stations and corridors.”
The MTC – which is pushing housing and retail around transit hubs to limit car trips – happily handed out the cash to every city that applied for the dollars in Marin and Sonoma. But in Marin only one of the three eligible cities stepped forward: San Rafael. Novato and Larkspur passed, each saying they were not quite ready to embrace the concept until they know more.
San Rafael received $140,000 to plan around a Civic Center Station, which will go in along the west side of Civic Center Drive, and another $388,000 for planning at its downtown station just north the transit center. The city will have to provide a 20 percent match.
Amid the grit and grease that is Wine Country Motors on Sixth Street, mechanics tromp over ribbons of steel embedded in the concrete floor.
These rails might seem as out of place as a mounted moose head, but they tell a story. Wine Country Motors occupies a building that accommodated a century of the city’s transportation history.
Wine Country Motors and half a dozen other contemporary businesses are housed within the shell of the enormous car barn of the old Vallejo, Benicia & Napa Valley Railroad.Built in 1905, the car barn and repair shop remained after the electric railroad went belly-up in 1935. Today people visit the ghost of the old railroad to rent a car, buy smoking supplies, or get their vehicle smogged.
Filed under: Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Sonoma
November 10, 2009
To All Interested Parties:
The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the North Coast Railroad Authority Project (SCH 2007072052) has been issued for public comments. Since the March 9, 2009 DEIR was circulated, new information that is considered significant has been made available. In accordance with CEQA 15088.5, the March 9, 2009 DEIR is being revised and recirculated to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on the revisions. Because the new information affected numerous sections throughout the document, the entire DEIR is being recirculated.
Previous comments on the March 9, 2009 DEIR will still be considered part of the public record, but written responses to these comments will not be included in the final EIR. The public is therefore advised to submit new comments on the revised DEIR.
The following provides a summary of the primary areas where the March 9, 2009 DEIR was revised:
• Since the March 9, 2009 DEIR was circulated, the NCRA Board approved its final Trail Guidelines. These guidelines are significantly different than the draft Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company (NWP Co.) Trail Guidelines that were used in the March 9, 2009 Public Safety analysis. The final NCRA Trail Guidelines are available on the NCRA web page.
• The March 9, 2009 DEIR identified BMPs as mitigation measures, but did not include a copy of them in the document. It was originally felt that since the agencies would be reviewing the BMPs prior to operations, it was not critical that they be included in the DEIR. NCRA has finalized its BMPs and these are now included in Appendix A of the revised DEIR.
• NCRA’s current operator is NWP Co.; however, since it is feasible that a different operator could at some point operate on the rail line, the revised DEIR includes or references NCRA’s plans and procedures instead of NWP Co. specific plans and procedures. It is understood that any operator will be required to follow NCRA’s plans and procedures.
• Detailed discussion was included in the cumulative section regarding the operating agreement between NCRA and SMART. Many of these details are still being discussed; therefore, they have been removed from the cumulative section. The combined operations of the passenger and freight trains will be in compliance with FRA safety regulations.
• The NCRA Rehabilitation of the rail line from Lombard to Windsor was included as a cumulative project.
This document represents the revised DEIR which is currently being recirculated for public review and comment.
Publication of this DEIR marks the beginning of a 45-day public review period, during which written comments may be submitted to the NCRA at the following address:
Written comments may be submitted to the following addresses:
North Coast Railroad Authority
419 Talmage Road, Suite M
Ukiah, CA 95482
mitch.stogner@northcoastrailroad.org
To conserve resources, this DEIR is being distributed primarily on computer disk. The DEIR will be available as of November 11, 2009 at the North Coast Railroad Authority website at www.northcoastrailroad.org. The review period for this DEIR is November 10, 2009 to December 31, 2009.
Copies of the DEIR (hard copy of the Executive Summary and a CD for computer viewing of the remainder of the document) may also be reviewed at the following libraries:
Marin Civic Center Library
3501 Civic Center Drive #427
San Rafael, CA 94903
Sonoma County Library
211 E Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Mendocino County Library
105 N. Main Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
Humboldt County Library
1313 Third St
Eureka CA 95501
Filed under: Mendocino, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, SMART, Willits, bicycle, trails
Some sad news this week.
Willits news: Ruth Rockefeller: Community loses a venerable citizen
After her retirement from teaching, she took on the failing Northwestern Pacific Railroad; preserving the railroad became her passion. She was the first woman to be elected chairman for the North Coast Railroad Authority in 1998 when she was 80 years old. The plaque she received for this honor was presented to her by the board of directors chairman, who said: “Whoever thought an 80 year old school teacher would be actively managing the NCRA, but there’s nothing like this little old schoolmarm.”
Ruth was very proud of that award and worked diligently to the end of her life to save the railroad.
Former Tiburon mayor and rail backer Ellman dies
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit booster George Ellman died last month, but he is not done with the rail project just yet.
His ashes will be on the first SMART train scheduled to roll down the tracks in 2014, a request made by Mr. Ellman before his death.
NorCal History Blog: Getting to work at Falk
I talked to Bill Rich yesterday, and the folks at HSU are getting ready to start digging at the historic town site of Falk.
Cloverdale seeks to link downtown to the train station
Cloverdale is considering building a bike and pedestrian path to its rail station in anticipation of eventual commuter train service.
The path is being proposed as a way to link the downtown to the station on the opposite side of the freeway.
The bike/pedestrian path, dubbed the Cloverdale Greenway project, could replace two of the four vehicle lanes on Citrus Fair Drive that run under Highway 101 and connect the west of town to the station on the east.
Not local related, but still a little fun. World’s smallest model train.
Thanks, all for your support. It was one of those things that was hard to get, was good info on the railroad. Every monthly meeting they have a presentation with photos of progress on the railroad. However, they haven’t posted a single 2009 presentation yet. I keep saying, they need to show what they have done, it is a pr thing.
Wiggins won’t seek re-election | PressDemocrat.com | The Press Democrat | Santa Rosa, CA.
A tearful state Sen. Pat Wiggins told supporters Sunday that she will not seek another four-year term in the Legislature next year.
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Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, a close political ally of Wiggins and a longtime friend, will likely run for the Senate seat in 2010, Evans spokesman Terry Price said.
Roseland School District trustee David Rosas has already filed papers to run in the Democratic primary for the 2nd Senate District, which covers Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano & Sonoma counties.
Filed under: Mendocino, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Ukiah
The Ukiah Redevelopment Agency committed $163,084 Wednesday to a project that will restore the Ukiah Railroad Depot to its original 1929 condition.
via City agrees to spend money to restore Ukiah depot – Ukiah Daily Journal.
Filed under: Marin, Mendocino, NCRA, Napa Valley, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, SMART, Sonoma, Ukiah, transit
Ukiah Daily Journal: 50-year lease: City to renovate historic Ukiah depot
The council approved a lease contract with the North Coast Railroad Authority which gives the city a 50-year lease on the depot for a dollar a year, with an option for another 20 years.
In return, the city will use highway and redevelopment funds to bring back the depot to its original 1929 condition.
The city has awarded a contract to Cupples Construction for $389,000. About two thirds will come from federal highway fund grants funneled through Caltrans and about one third – $106,000 – will come from the city’s redevelopment funding.
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Now that all the pieces are in place, Pruden said the rehabilitation should begin right away and be completed in about four months.
Under the lease, if the railroad begins passenger service before the end of the lease and wants to use the depot, the city and NCRA are required to try to come up with a way to share the depot. If an agreement can’t be reached, NCRA can take back the depot, but only with Caltrans’ permission.
MIJ: SMART picks heavy cars for Marin-Sonoma rail system
Marin and Sonoma train passengers will ride heavy diesel trains linking the two counties when service is scheduled to start in 2014.
SRPD: SMART selects American-made rail cars
Directors of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system on Wednesday chose the heavier American-style rail car over its European counterpart, but promised it would be every bit as quiet, comfortable and sleek.
“It’s not only got to look cool, it has to ride well and be a good neighbor,” said Charles McGlashan, a Marin County supervisor and SMART chairman.
The decision, which came on a 9-2 vote, directs staff to begin writing specifications, from the number of bathrooms on a train car to how many bicycles it can hold. The process will take several months and cost $400,000.
It also allows SMART engineers to begin designing rail stations, platforms and maintenance facilities along the 70-mile, Cloverdale-to-Larkspur commute line.
NVR: St. Helena mayor wants public vote on Wine Train
Détente has been declared between St. Helena and the Napa Valley Wine Train, but Mayor Del Britton isn’t so sure that St. Helena citizens are ready to lay down their arms.
Meter bypass plans spark arrest of three – The Willits News.
When deputies responded to the site, they noted substantial evidence of a marijuana grow and obtained a search warrant. The house was a complete shell house, completely converted to growing marijuana indoors. Agents report finding 4,500 growing plants, about 20 pounds of processed marijuana, a loaded handgun and a bypassed meter.
Deputies speculate the operators of the grow house had apparently tired of paying $3,000 per month for electricity and that the operation had been in service for at least two years. The property owner lives in Arizona.
Michael Anthony Wade, 19, and Travis James Wood, 21, both of Garberville, and Christopher Scott Bartman, 23, of Benicia, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale, bypassing a utility meter to steal electricity and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime.
Lets see here, 4,500 plants, and 20 pounds of processed marijuana, yet didn’t want to pay $3k per month? How many nuke and coal plants can we shut down if we quit growing indoors? Remember this is all about worshiping the green…… money.
Filed under: Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Sonoma
By PATTY CLARY
Published: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 4:28 p.m.A recent Close to Home column (“Are freight trains in Sonoma County’s future?” April 30) which attacked a deputy attorney general who has threatened legal action if the North Coast Railroad Authority doesn’t deal with the toxic mess littering its rail lines and yards, was way off track.
Actually, the attorney general’s worst offense has been to allow the North Coast Rail Authority to ignore a court-sanctioned decree made 10 years ago to stop the discharge of toxic waste — including waste left by Southern Pacific that California took on when it bought the rail corridor in 1991 with funds allocated by voter initiative.
Even at this late date, the attorney general isn’t requiring that the NCRA stop all discharge of pollutants from the rail corridor, just that plans agreed upon by the NCRA all those years ago will finally be made and approved before operations can begin.
Eighty-plus years of neglect and disregard for the drinking water, wildlife and economy of our region have left their toxic mark on five counties and dozens of watersheds through which the railroad runs.
The situation is so grave that three state agencies joined together in 1997 to sue the NCRA to stop the discharge of chemicals spilled, burned, sprayed, dumped and buried throughout the rail corridor.
Despite the passage of years, many areas of the North Coast remain severely depressed because of the proximity to toxic sites owned — and neglected — by the NCRA. Now the rail authority, itself an agency of the state, wants to resume operations without restoring these blighted sites as it agreed.
What’s more, to avoid living up to the terms of the decree, the NCRA has pleaded poverty as its limiting factor, an argument that convinced reluctant state regulators to hold off prosecution and even try to obtain money for the railroad.
Yet in a recent legal action brought by Novato, railroad authorities told the court they had never claimed that a shortage of funds has been the obstacle to dealing with the toxic chemicals despite written evidence they had made such claims for years.
Then, to add insult to injury, the NCRA settled the Novato lawsuit so that the original decree was trumped by the new agreement and did so without consulting the state agencies or the attorney general’s office.
Under terms of the original decree, the NCRA must write plans for dealing with spills, waste storage, storm water and a dozen other critical concerns. That’s only the first step. And it’s the only step needed to start operation of the freight line.
In 10 years, the NCRA has not even begun to write those plans. For the NCRA or its supporters to cry foul at this point is typical of its history of obfuscation of the real problems associated with the rail line. Sentimental visions of the charms of railroads and unsubstantiated claims of being “green” or good for the economy have, for too long, served as smoke screens to cover the deeply toxic aspects of its operations, past and present.
The last year this railroad made money was 1974 — at the end of the old growth redwood economy — and its future profitability is doubtful. Where then will the money come from to deal with the toxic burden the state took on when it formed the NCRA and bought the line?
That’s the real question at the heart of the railroad dispute. Hiding our heads in the sand and blaming the messenger isn’t going to help deal with this bitter pill. Some clarity, even just the laying of plans, would be a start.
Patty Clary is the programs and policy director for Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, based in Eureka. Clary grew up listening to the train horn from across a field in Santa Rosa and sometimes was late to school at St. Rose when the train blocked West 9th Street.
The problem I have, is she makes it like NCRA doesn’t want to do clean up, it does want to do clean up. Every person there wants to do so. The reality, is several things, a) part of the property is SMART’s. b) the money has to come from somewhere, it must come from revenue such as running trains, property leases, or the California budget. The last option keeps getting vetoed by our governor.
Filed under: Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, SMART, Sonoma, trails
Staff recommended some changes.
Some key points for now. I’ll post the PDF’s tonight.
Abandonment of ridged setbacks, instead they will be on a case by case basis.
Recognizes the many varied and close setbacks throughout the nation.
Recognizes both NCRA and SMART have jurisdiction depending on area.
Willits Woodstock appears to be defunct – Ukiah Daily Journal.
Nash Gonzales, county planning and building services director, said Thursday he still had not received any kind of documentation from Rosco Smith or anyone involved with the Monsoon Entertainment’s proposed ReBirth festival meant to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock in Willits.
“I’ve gotten no communications from them, not a thing,” said Gonzales. “I was waiting. It’s been forgotten I guess. I was hoping they’d come in and we could at least talk, but at this point I think it’s not going to happen.”
