Oddly enough, it happened same night as being accused(falsely) by MB of being a troll. I am sure the fireworks would have cause some bodily harm if used as they said.
Sixteen court cases have all decided converting railroads in to trails is an unconstitutional taking of land. When the easements were granted, land owners never granted an easement to make a trail. Each court case pointed out a trail is not a railroad. That means in order to make a trail, the land owners must receive fair market value for the new easement. Expect millions of dollars to be added to the cost of trails.
Filed under: Arcata, bicycle, Eureka, Humboldt, NCRA, North Coast Railroad, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, THA, trails | Tags: NCJ, Not Online
Somehow my, and another letter about the rail failed to appear online at the North Coast Journal.
Rees Hughes makes a mistake by assuming all rail travel is more expensive than trails in the “A Walk on the Wild Side.” The problem is a matter of the weight of the rail travel exerting forces on the track. Speeders, hand cars, and rail-cycles do not weigh as much as a train. They are not classified by the Federal Railroad Administration as a train. All of these can run on the rail as it is today with the only exception is a little clearing of trees. The Arcata & Mad River Speeder Crewcar has traveled from the Arcata Marsh to the last crossing North of Eureka. Those washouts are minor, and I have lawfully walked that path, because of volunteering with the Timber Heritage Association. The costs are only that of clearing and inspection of the track. The reason that side is not regularly used is political, not physical. The mistake is assuming costs are all the same. So minimal costs versus millions of dollars to make the trail. The speeder clearly is the lowest cost version.
Another mistake is the thinking the speeder crewcar/hand cars would not attract many people. Already thousands of people have ridden the speeder on trips given by the Timber Heritage Association. Many of those people are from out of the area, enhancing the local economy. Last year twelve thousand people showed up for the annual one event called the Handcar Regretta, at the Santa Rosa Depot. I would describe that event as a Steam Punk sculpture race on the rails. Rail based transport is hugely popular.
Might I suggest we do a serious look at rail based passenger transport? I suggest we look at DMUs SMART will be using in Sonoma and Marin counties.
Filed under: Marin, North Coast Railroad, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, SMART, Sonoma, trails, transit
3rd editorial on the utter failure of RepealSMART
Not enough signatures to even bother with the verification of votes. They needed 14,9xx votes plus thirty percent per RepealSMART. They turned in 14,5xx signatures even after paying people to get signatures. They cannot even go to court over that amount. That is six months worth of effort.
There is talk of a second attempt at repeal. Even if successful, it will accomplish nothing. The money will be released soon for construction, committing the money to the project.
Filed under: Humboldt, marijuana, Mendocino, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Southern Humboldt, trails, Willits
Madrone estimates the trail would cost between $300 million and $400 million to build
That is a quote from the trail adviser, unlike Sims who used any person from the audience.
A railroad easement is there until the railroad is abandoned. It doesn’t matter if the line has been inactive for twenty-five years or more.
The railroad is not required to use creosoted wood. Other alternatives are concrete, steel, plastic, rubber, and other wood resistant to rot.
We rail advocates understand it will be a long hard path.
With ever increasing fuel costs, there is a rising need for the railroad. The railroad can haul one ton of freight for an average of 426 miles on one gallon of fuel. A truck on the other hand hauls one ton of freight for about an average of 118 miles on one gallon of fuel. With rising tensions and population around the world, do we really want to be stuck with a less efficient transportation?
Security is of paramount importance, so ERTA promotes use of technology here. A “trail card” system with solar-powdered automated trail stations could be located at all of the approx. 15 main ERT access points from paved roads. The cards could have a proximity sensor function, so that if someone gets lost, we would know which section they last passed through. It is much easier to search 5 or10 miles than it is 162 miles. All trail users could be required to provide next of kin contacts and planned date of arrival at a given access point. There could be different types of trail cards, like single or multiple day-use as well as annual or lifetime passes, for locals or frequent users.
How many people do they really think is going to pay for trail use? Enough for $400 million in costs, not to mention maintenance costs? Does he really think anyone will use this security card, let alone MJ Growers? I’m sure DEA will not subpena the records.
BTW, NCRA said the rails, etc is theirs, and will be used for the rest of the system if this is railbanked. So if you are counting on $400 million from scrapping the relatively small amount, forget it. Also the scrap won’t even add up to what they need.
General Manger Lillian Hames and the vehicle procurement team of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District are recommending the Board of Directors enter a contract with Sumitomo Corp. of America to build SMART’s passenger rail vehicles at a new plant in Illinois.
The contract would cover the manufacture and delivery of 18 rail cars (nine two-car trains) and cost $56,853,739 – more than $23 million below the original engineer’s estimate for vehicles.
The recommendation was released on Oct. 25. The Board of Directors is expected to discuss the issue at its next regular meeting, 1:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at San Rafael City Hall.
Rail vehicles will be the signature feature of the SMART project, a 70-mile passenger train and parallel bicycle-pedestrian pathway from Cloverdale to Larkspur. The vehicle selection process has been a major focus of the district since nearly 70 percent of the voters in Marin and Sonoma approved Measure Q in November 2008.
A request for proposals from the vehicle industry in April 2010 produced six proposals from five manufacturers. A vehicle evaluation team comprised of SMART staff and consultants reviewed all of the proposals for technical content, and Sumitomo received the highest ranking. After that technical ranking was completed, the evaluation team opened price proposals. Based on an order of nine three-car trains, the price proposals were as follows:
| Proposer | Price (nine three-car sets) |
| CAF USA Inc. | $ 136.7 million |
| Siemens | $ 121.2 million |
| Siemens (Alternate Proposal) | $ 104.6 million |
| Stadler Rail AG | $ 124.0 million |
| Sumitomo Corporation of America | $ 82.7 million |
| U.S. Railcar | $ 131.5 million |
SMART plans a start-up fleet of nine two-car trains, with an option to order “middle” cars for three-car train sets as ridership grows.
Given that Sumitomo was ranked first for its technical proposal and its price was more than $20 million less than the next lowest proposer, SMART entered negotiations with Sumitomo. The proposal met all of SMART’s requirements, including:
· Satisfaction of all requirements for performance, including operations and passenger
ride quality
· Crash Energy Management (CEM) system proposed, adding increased safety over the
level specified by SMART and required by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
· EPA Tier 4 final compliant engines (exceeding current requirements)
· Fully FRA-compliant (no waivers required)
· Fully Buy-America compliant, preserving SMART’s opportunity to execute future
options under the contract utilizing federal funding if it becomes available
· A vehicle with high-quality exterior and interior design deemed to be responsive to the
image that SMART intended for its vehicles
· Provision of restrooms and service bars as desired in the specification
· A color and finishing scheme that can be customized to SMART’s preference
· Provision of 158 seats per train (married pair)
· ADA access throughout the train and level boarding at stations (no steps or narrow aisle
ways)
· 24 primary and 14 secondary bicycle spaces per married pair
· Work tables, luggage racks, convenience outlets, Wi-Fi, reclining seats and all other
features responsive to SMART’s requirements
· Powered third cars proposed as options that include operator cabs, enabling absolute
flexibility for configuration and operation of trains in a variety of vehicle combinations
· Sumitomo accepted essentially all requirements of SMART’s specification and example
contract document included in the RFP
Sumitomo Corp. of America is a partnership that includes Sumitomo as a financial partner with Nippon Sharyo, a Japanese railcar builder that has provided vehicles for rail transit systems throughout the United States, including Caltrain, Virginia Railway Express, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, Chicago’s Metra system, the Maryland Department of Transportation, Caltrans and Los Angeles County. Should the Board of Directors accept the recommendation and enter a contract with Sumitomo, SMART’s rail cars would be substantially built at a new Nippon Sharyo plant in Rochelle, Ill., which opened last week to build Chicago Metra vehicles.
The draft manufacturing schedule calls for the first vehicles to be delivered to SMART in October 2013 and the final vehicle in May 2014. SMART passenger rail service is scheduled to begin in fall 2014.
The full recommendation is available at www.sonomamarintrain.org
Filed under: bicycle, Eureka, Humboldt, Manila, Marin, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Samoa, SMART, Sonoma, trails, transit
I’ve delayed this, because of being in a grumble type mood. Now I need to reboot the browser, and computer for updates, so I might as well deal with it.
I and others, were trying to get a 4th of July speeder run in Eureka for this year, working it out for weeks. Heck, it was thought of last year, but was rejected. Something about overwhelming crowds back then.
Lets review the area that we wanted to give rides. The loading area would be Humboldt Towing at the northern end of 1st st., so that we would be connected to the crowds of downtown, and not block much of 1st st. The Northern end of the ride would be just south of T st. crossing. As far as getting it ready, there is no brush in the way, clear a bit of the flange ways, cut flange ways out of wood in one crossing, and cut some wimpy stumps that grew next to the rails. You couldn’t ask for an easier new riding area for a speeder. You couldn’t ask for a nicer way to get in the public’s mind.
Just a simple little ride, generating good pr, having fun, and generating a little revenue. No advertising, for it was a bit late for that, just a few signs around downtown pointing the way or so.
Except that isn’t what happened. Instead I got the full force of the political, lazy answers. Excuses ranges from the stumps,to paved over crossing, to permits needed, to lack of transportation due to somebody being out-of-town. The stump would have taken one person a max of 1/2 day to take care of. It isn’t like you have a full tree to take care of, and we have dealt with plenty of stumps next to the rails on the Samoa side. There is no paved over crossing, the closest one that fits that description is the one just north of Humboldt towing. Just take a chainsaw to the wood, and cut a small grove for the flanges. Eureka city engineering didn’t get back to me on that one. Talking to Eureka city clerk, no permits needed. Nice person BTW. Transportation could have been overcome, by having Humboldt Towing, or another towing company put it on a flat-bed. I’m sure I could have even borrowed or rented something big enough to haul it.
But nope, it got shot down to the point, even a static display was given the big NO from the board meeting. No means to appeal the decision, heck I didn’t even know the idea would be voted on. Well it is time to revamp the by-laws.
Enough of the rant.
The speeder rides this year have the new trailer to about double the capacity of the rides. And will have a special run in the beginning of Aug from Arcata and will be longer rides.
Pacific Lumber Speeder ride opens to public in Humboldt County
More seats available for ‘Riding the Rail’
”Riding the Rails” speeders now can carry 26 people. A donation of $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $4 for children under 8 is requested from guests. Children riding on the lap require no tickets.
Rides start this coming Saturday, and continue on July 24, Aug. 28 and Sept. 25 for a 20-minute ride between Samoa and Manila beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. The Timber Heritage Association will have a special longer ride along the U.S. Highway 101 corridor on Aug. 7 with a higher donation of $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for children under 8. Tickets and reservations can be made online at www.timberheritage.org. Potential guests may call 442-3073 for reservations and information.
SamoaSoftball blog: has Eureka Southern excursion train blast from the past video.
SRPD: Freight trains at least 3 months away
Basically looking at around Oct of this year if things go well for freight trains on the NWP.
MIJ: Editorial, don’t cut the SMART bike path.
SMART, the commuter train on the southern end of the NWP faces $155 million. The debate is how to go about things with building the line. The shortfall is due to the economy, lack of money coming from NCRA because of the freight trains not running, and new safety requirement. So what gets cut out, or delayed? General choices is hope for better economy, federal grants(etc), bike trail, or
Filed under: Arcata, bicycle, Eureka, Humboldt, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, THA, trails
North Coast lawmakers may be asked by local Democrats to introduce legislation that would hand over the North Coast Railroad line in Humboldt County to a public entity so it could be used for a trail and a tourist train.
Filed under: bicycle, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, Samoa, THA, trails, Ukiah
THA Gaining Gorgeous Train Cars – April 28, 2010 [with photos]
Cal Park Hill Tunnel project gets final dollars, to open in October
The Cal Park Hill Tunnel is expected to open to the public in October after a regional agency this week approved almost $3 million for final work on the project.
Inmates clean up around the railroad tracks
Inmate crews have been organized by Ukiah to clean up the overgrown corridor of the railroad tracks this week.
Crews out of the Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp west of Willits got started on the project Monday near the renovated rail depot on Perkins Street. The crews had leveled overgrown grass and bushes from Perkins south to about the Grace Hudson Park.
Filed under: bicycle, Marin, NCRA, Northwestern Pacific Railroad, Railroad, SMART, Sonoma, trails, transit
Recession derails SMART plans
Tax dollars, loan money, freight track revenue all in question now
Construction was supposed to start next year, but the timeline for the Cloverdale to Larkspur line may be thrown off by three key factors linked to the recession. It has crimped the flow of sales tax dollars needed to back bonds and pay for running the railroad, has soured the bond market necessary for obtaining construction loan money and has raised questions about the prospects of revenue from freight traffic.
Windsor Councilwoman Debora Fudge, who this year took over leadership of SMART’s board of directors with high hopes of high visibility and positive publicity, is now enduring a withering attack from her opponent, Healdsburg Councilman Mike McGuire, for a seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
Handcar Regatta vehicles get the art treatment
That was one of the vehicles to run on the NWP railroad in Santa Rosa.
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit agency on Monday opened its Santa Rosa construction offices, which will be headquarters for the engineers, planners and consultants who will put the 70-mile system together during the next four years.
Final leg of bike trail on its way
The final segment of a 1.8-mile bicycle and pedestrian path that cuts diagonally through central Napa along Napa Valley Wine Train tracks will be built this summer.
Also there is plans to make a long abandoned railroad branch, going west from Santa Rosa in to a trail.
Governor Vetoes Gas Tax Swap Legislation
Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed the legislative measures that would have executed the gas tax swap mechanism, while restoring some of the funding that transit agencies lost when the State zeroed out State Transit Assistance (STA) funds. Agencies throughout California had previously relied on STA to fund transit operations. The Legislature made a good effort to produce a revenue neutral compromise that would have partially funded a critical transit need that the State abandoned this fiscal year, while maintaining the Governor’s basic swap mechanism. But the Governor, in his typically warped approach for addressing California’s budget crisis, refused to sign the legislation into law because the Legislature’s version of the tax swap did not reduce the tax burden felt by drivers at the pump.
