Several writers have wondered what is Novato doing?

Let's face it. The issue is that the NCRA is making different
representations of its "plans" depending on the audience.
On one side is the view that there really isn't that much
demand for freight services; freight service north of Willits
is speculative; and what is Novato doing holding up a few freight
trains per week or day? (If the plan was limited to this, there
really are very few impacts.)

On the other side is the documents submitted to the state
government in which the strategic plans of the NCRA are
explained as justification for state funding. (There should be
doubt that the NCRA would get state funds if it stated that
it never plans on restarting freight to Eureka.) In this view,
it doesn't help the NCRA that it signed an MOU with the Harbor
District pledging to restart freight and its Board Chairman
has been quoted in the press stating that freight will be
restarted by 2011. The impacts associated with this plan have
a potentially significant effect on residents, particularly in
Novato and Sonoma county. These effects tie into the conversation
about a container port because without freight service there will
be no container port and if there is a container port the number
of freight trains could far exceed any number being bandied about.

Then there is the law. It's all about disclosure and transparency,
something the NCRA has tried to avoid and is now getting roasted
in court for not following.

I can understand why rail boosters are frustrated. But their
frustration should be focused on the source: the NCRA has gotten
terrible legal advice from its counsel. It was a lawsuit waiting
to happen. Novato was just the first to finally step up to the
plate and insist that the NCRA ought to follow state law. So far,
the court agrees.

Hope this helps. Novato is preserving its rights under the law
so that its citizens and eventually those in Sonoma county understand
that this is not your typical freight rail proposal. And it's certainly
not about "removing trucks from the freeway," which is the often-repeated
mantra of freight rail supporters.