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STB DOCKET FD_34400_0
"Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), Footnote a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire the real estate and rail facilities and trackage from Northwestern Pacific Railroad Authority (NWPRA) Footnote comprising a line of railroad that extends from Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company (NWP) milepost 68.2 at Healdsburg, CA, to Southern Pacific Transportation Company (SP) milepost 63.4 at Lombard Station, Napa County, CA, via Schellville (NWP milepost 40.6 /SP milepost 72.59), a distance of approximately 66.85 miles. SMART indicates that it will take title subject to an easement for freight service, which was granted to North Coast Railroad Authority as part of NWPRA’s acquisition in STB Finance Docket No. 32910, and to an operating agreement subsequently providing for service by Northwestern Pacific Railway Co., LLC (NWPY). Footnote According to SMART, the purpose of this acquisition is to place the line in the ownership of an agency that is legally authorized to operate passenger rail service. SMART states that it will not be providing freight rail service. Rather, CFNR Operating Company, Inc. (CFNR) Footnote and NWPY will continue to be the carriers providing freight rail service over the line, and SMART will retain a residual common carrier obligation until such time as it petitions the Board for a change in status and the Board grants its petition. SMART certifies that its projected revenues as a result of this transaction will not exceed those that would qualify it as a Class III rail carrier."