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Re: NCRA Rail board members defended BY Marin Board of Supervisors
Author: Misty, ESQ
Date: 04-24-2008 - 16:01
1) Without additional state funding, the NCRA will not be able
to complete track repair. Without track repair to federal standards,
they won't be able to operate freight trains.
2) While NWP Co. may be willing to run freight only from Willits
to Napa, the economics is against them....unless they can get
funding from the state to maintain track. There simply isn't
sufficient demand for freight in this region for them to make this work for them, without
further public subsidies.
3) Mike Pechner is right about one thing. IF NWP Co. could run freight
from Willits to Napa and stay in business without state funding, there is
little ocmmunities can do to stop freight trains. His point is right: The EIR process
is tied to the state funding of the track repair. By itself it will not
stop freight trains, even if it delays them.
4) The judge is not buying the segmented EIR approach taken by
the NCRA. It is illegal under CEQA and this legal position is not impacted by the fact
that the funding has been geographically segmented by the CTC.
5) Ultimately this is going to be resolved within the democratic
party in Sacramento. The republican party is already against further
dollars for the NCRA. If only a handful of democratic legislators
change their view, the NCRA enabling legislation can be changed.
What the state giveth, the state can taketh away.
to complete track repair. Without track repair to federal standards,
they won't be able to operate freight trains.
2) While NWP Co. may be willing to run freight only from Willits
to Napa, the economics is against them....unless they can get
funding from the state to maintain track. There simply isn't
sufficient demand for freight in this region for them to make this work for them, without
further public subsidies.
3) Mike Pechner is right about one thing. IF NWP Co. could run freight
from Willits to Napa and stay in business without state funding, there is
little ocmmunities can do to stop freight trains. His point is right: The EIR process
is tied to the state funding of the track repair. By itself it will not
stop freight trains, even if it delays them.
4) The judge is not buying the segmented EIR approach taken by
the NCRA. It is illegal under CEQA and this legal position is not impacted by the fact
that the funding has been geographically segmented by the CTC.
5) Ultimately this is going to be resolved within the democratic
party in Sacramento. The republican party is already against further
dollars for the NCRA. If only a handful of democratic legislators
change their view, the NCRA enabling legislation can be changed.
What the state giveth, the state can taketh away.
