Rail Service To Return To Humboldt County?
from Eureka Times-Standard

When the President signed the massive Transportation bill this week, one of the provisions gives $8.6 million in federal funds to the North Coast Railroad Authority. The NCRA's goal is to restore the railroad which once ran from Humboldt County through Sonoma and Napa Counties and connect to the Union Pacific line in Solano County. This line, now called the Northwest Pacific Railroad, was once a vital part of the infrastructure of Northwest California, but has fallen into disrepair. Fortunately, through the efforts of the NCRA and other groups, the right-of-way is still intact and could be restored back to operating condition. The project has been languishing for years, mainly due to lack of funding. Stay tuned for more information as this project progresses.

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Federal funds help railroad gather steam
The Times-Standard
Eureka Times Standard

EUREKA -- Recent funding approved in the federal transportation bill for the North Coast Railroad Authority will help the struggling line toward gaining even more cash.

House Resolution 3 -- the $286.4 billion transportation bill expected to be signed by the president this week -- includes $8.6 million in funding for NCRA, as well as forgiveness for a previous debt of $12 million.

In addition, the money should help free up another $14.1 million in other state and federal funds.

These portions of the transportation bill were sponsored by Democratic North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson.

NCRA Chairman and Humboldt County Supervisor John Woolley said forgiveness of the federal loan provides an important added benefit because it "triggers" legislation by State Sen. Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata, "which will allow us to take $5.5 million set-aside to repay the federal loan and invest it in the railroad instead."

Chesbro's bill frees-up $5.5 million -- originally intended for loan repayment -- to be used to manage repair of the line, address emergency right-of-way needs, complete the court-mandated clean-up of nine rail yards and prepare for the resumption of rail operations, said Woolley.

NCRA's Sonoma County representative Allan Hemphill said, "It's important to remember that Rep. Thompson and Sen. Chesbro are allowing NCRA to access funds that have been languishing in federal and state accounts since 1996 and 2001 respectively. These provisions will benefit NCRA greatly but will have no impact on the current state or federal budgets," he said.

"Accessing these funds is an important milestone that will allow us to initiate repairs on the south-end and begin the environmental work in the Eel River Canyon," he said. "The railroad is our hope for the future, the very best way to connect the many communities along California's North Coast into a vibrant economic unit."

Chesbro's legislation, Senate Bill 792, has been approved by the state Senate and is expected to be approved by the Assembly and then sent to the governor in September.

posted by santo26 | 03:18 PM