Anti-railroad? I have a long history of commuting by rail and
enjoy it. But not all railroads are made equal.

In general, I'm for full disclosure and transparency and law abiding public
agencies.

1) Just because freight and trucks compete for some goods over
some distances, it doesn't mean they compete for all goods over
all distances. The argument that this freight proposal will remove
trucks from the freeway is PR put out by the backers of the railroad
and not backed by any analysis. In particular, if one could specify
just what the real freight proposal is, would be a great start, because
the NCRA is playing cat-and-mouse with the public on this issue.

2) What public purpose does it serve to provide subsidies (via
freight rail cost subsidies) to gravel mining operators in a location
where the public doesn't want mines in the first place? Stated another
way, do you think the public really would support the quarrying of
Island Mountain? (No way.)

3) When public agencies break the law, there is no law. I've never
understood rail backers' willingness to defend clear violations
of state law because they think the "end justifies the means."
The NCRA has a history of violating state environmental laws and is
now fighting the finding that it is violating another.