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Press Release from NCRA on resumption of Service on NWP.
Author: Mike Pechner
Date: 12-11-2008 - 21:39
PRESS RELEASE – December 10, 2008 - Petaluma – The North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) paid tribute to 6th District Assemblyman, Jared Huffman at its meeting in Petaluma yesterday for “forging a settlement with the City of Novato” that will allow repairs to go forward and freight rail service to restart on the Northwestern Pacific (NWP) line in Marin and Sonoma Counties in 2009.
The commendatory Resolution presented to Huffman on Wednesday in Petaluma was adopted earlier by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors at the request of 4th District Supervisor, Paul Kelley, who also serves on the nine-member NCRA Board of Directors.
NCRA’s Chairman, Allan Hemphill, said the November 3 lawsuit settlement has allowed bridge and trackway contractors to resume repairs on the 62 mile stretch of rail from Lombard (South of Napa) to Windsor.
“The first phase of repairs to Windsor is fully funded and should be complete by this spring,” said Hemphill. He said that NCRA’s plans call for limited freight service between Napa County and Windsor in 2009 while the NCRA embarks on additional track, bridge, and tunnel work between Windsor and Willits in 2010.
“Our goal is to resume freight service on the first phase (Napa-Winsor) in 2009 and to begin running trains all the way to Willits by the end of 2010,” said Hemphill, who was chosen by the Board on Wednesday to serve as its Chairman again in 2009.
The Resolution from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors commends Huffman, who represents Marin and Southern Sonoma County in the state legislature, for “advocacy on behalf of North Coast rail service which will result in significant environmental benefits and energy savings for our region, including a major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the removal of tens of thousands of trucks and automobiles from Highway 101.”
The North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) was formed in 1989 by the California Legislature under the North Coast Railroad Authority Act, Government Code Section 93000, et seq. The mission of the North Coast Railroad Authority is to provide a unified & revitalized rail infrastructure meeting the freight and passenger needs of the region; a first class service working in partnership with others to build and sustain the economy of the region.
The commendatory Resolution presented to Huffman on Wednesday in Petaluma was adopted earlier by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors at the request of 4th District Supervisor, Paul Kelley, who also serves on the nine-member NCRA Board of Directors.
NCRA’s Chairman, Allan Hemphill, said the November 3 lawsuit settlement has allowed bridge and trackway contractors to resume repairs on the 62 mile stretch of rail from Lombard (South of Napa) to Windsor.
“The first phase of repairs to Windsor is fully funded and should be complete by this spring,” said Hemphill. He said that NCRA’s plans call for limited freight service between Napa County and Windsor in 2009 while the NCRA embarks on additional track, bridge, and tunnel work between Windsor and Willits in 2010.
“Our goal is to resume freight service on the first phase (Napa-Winsor) in 2009 and to begin running trains all the way to Willits by the end of 2010,” said Hemphill, who was chosen by the Board on Wednesday to serve as its Chairman again in 2009.
The Resolution from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors commends Huffman, who represents Marin and Southern Sonoma County in the state legislature, for “advocacy on behalf of North Coast rail service which will result in significant environmental benefits and energy savings for our region, including a major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the removal of tens of thousands of trucks and automobiles from Highway 101.”
The North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) was formed in 1989 by the California Legislature under the North Coast Railroad Authority Act, Government Code Section 93000, et seq. The mission of the North Coast Railroad Authority is to provide a unified & revitalized rail infrastructure meeting the freight and passenger needs of the region; a first class service working in partnership with others to build and sustain the economy of the region.
Press Release from NCRA on resumption of Service on NWP.