Eureka Reporter

A judge handed the North Coast Railroad Authority another setback this week in the agency’s efforts to return freight and passenger rail service to the North Coast after being idle for nearly a decade.

Judge James Ritchie of the Marin County Superior Court issued a ruling Tuesday that denied the

NCRA’s effort to toss out the city of Novato’s suit that challenges the NCRA’s compliance with state environmental laws related to its repair work.

Novato has claimed the NCRA failed to do a full-blown environmental impact report under state laws that looked at the reopening and potential freight moving through Novato from Eureka — not just the local passenger service planned on the southern portions where
the repairs were targeted.

The NCRA argued earlier this month that Novato missed the 35-day statute of limitations to file a lawsuit.

The trial for the court to hear the merits of Novato’s case is scheduled to be heard May 6.

Humboldt County Supervisor John Woolley, who is also a member of the NCRA’s board of directors, announced Wednesday that the NCRA will appeal the ruling.