Let's all agree on the following:

1) Restarting freight service creates some winners and losers.
2) One group identified as winners appears to be farmers buying grain
from somewhere else far away, who would pay less if their were freight
service.
3) Losers --- depending on how many freight trains operate --- may be property
owners along the track in Novato and Sonoma who would see their property
values negatively impacted by freight. This impact is difficult to measure
and clearly depends on the level of freight service. A few freight trains
a week will have no effect. 16 trains operating at night could have a significant
impact.
4) Other losers: local governments who might see a slight difference in their
revenue stream; travelers impacted by at-grade crossing delays; SMART, because
it'll have a hell of time passing its tax with freight rail concerns diminishing
support for passenger rail

But here's the paradox:

If the scenario were that freight service to Willits and point south were
economically viable, we could continue the conversation. Under this scenario
it's a one time investment. NWP Co. gets up and running and has sufficient
profits to maintain the track east of the Wye and can repair future wash-outs
associated with storms, etc.

The problem is, no one really thinks that scenario is credible. Why? Because
the NWP Co. business plan says that it's important to their economic viability
to get to Island Mtn., which would generate lots of freight demand, lots of
rail cars and trains, lots of profits for Skip Berg and Doug Bosco. It would
also generate a lot of yet to be determined impacts associated with taking
down a mountain at the bend in the river. It would also significantly increase
the negative impacts on residents living near the track. (Has anyone wondered
why Rohnert Park built so many new homes next to track?)

So, which way is it going to be? That's a political struggle worth having
and one determined in Sacramento. Republican legislators have already
determined not a penny more for the NCRA. Democrats have --- up to now ---
gone the other way. We'll see if they hold.