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Re: NOVATO ADVANCE Time for Supervisor Arnold to help agriculture by backing freight trains
Author: Barry
Date: 05-10-2008 - 10:46
There is a negative price differential for houses next to the
Caltrans railroad line. Comparable properties that are the
same except that one suffers from noise sell for about a 10%
discount.
As to Mr. Grossi. How about some facts? I don't doubt
that there might be a savings but (1) we don't know
what the additional freight charge to go to Novato (it may
be none, but he should specify); (2) We don't know where
the load would be unloaded and (3) We don't know the trucking
charge from where grain is unloaded to get it to his ranch.
And, just how do freight tariffs change with higher diesel
fuel prices?
In any case, that there are winners and losers associated with
the NCRA proposal is no surprise. But, here's the problem.
If freight is to operate Willits south forever it would sure
be nice to understand how economically viable that alternative
is. All the feasibility studies point in the other direction:
that is, for the line to be viable they'll need to get to
the gravel mining operations. There just isn't enough demand
to pay for the track maintenace. All the more reason SMART
is tied into this. The plan has always been for the taxpayers
to subsidize freight.
Caltrans railroad line. Comparable properties that are the
same except that one suffers from noise sell for about a 10%
discount.
As to Mr. Grossi. How about some facts? I don't doubt
that there might be a savings but (1) we don't know
what the additional freight charge to go to Novato (it may
be none, but he should specify); (2) We don't know where
the load would be unloaded and (3) We don't know the trucking
charge from where grain is unloaded to get it to his ranch.
And, just how do freight tariffs change with higher diesel
fuel prices?
In any case, that there are winners and losers associated with
the NCRA proposal is no surprise. But, here's the problem.
If freight is to operate Willits south forever it would sure
be nice to understand how economically viable that alternative
is. All the feasibility studies point in the other direction:
that is, for the line to be viable they'll need to get to
the gravel mining operations. There just isn't enough demand
to pay for the track maintenace. All the more reason SMART
is tied into this. The plan has always been for the taxpayers
to subsidize freight.
