3 hours ago
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Bike and walking trails by train rails? Say it ain't so!
There was discussion today about rails and trails at the Citizens Port Development meeting today. I heard skepticism of the concept, but it is being done elsewhere. printer version : rails and trails : rails with trails Seems kind of crazy to me to put citizens in high risk peril situations with trains, but I am open to the idea if safety issues can be addressed. I think local trail advocates would just like the removal of the rail ties all together, as most people in the county have given up hope of future rail service. But if Proposition 1B is passed as is likely, there would be a chance to lobby for some of the windfall. Local rail advocate Moss Bittner says the time is now to contact all transportation related government entities and express the desire for monies to be earmarked for future Northern California rail development. So what are you waiting for? Get on the phone and call Spencer Clifton of the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCOAG). That's a good start.
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10 comments:
Great. Another opportunity to pour tax dollars down the drain.
Can you say boondoggle?
Rails with trails work in the midwest where you have excess right of way next to the tracks. Ain't gonna happen here as not only is there a lack of right of way (wetlands, etc.) but the NCRA will NEVER allow it.
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I think that the public is pretty safe from the prospect of getting hit by a train here. Read both the bond language and the state's goods movement report. We don't have a chance for any of that money. It's all going down south.
Here's some enthusiasm
A couple of points on trails:
1. You need local gov dollars to do the planning and permitting BEFORE you can get the big bucks to do the construction.
2. The Coastal Conservancy is one agency ready to provide the needed trails dollars.
3. The Coastal Conservancy is still at odds with the City of Eureka over the $ 1 million plus they offered the City to rehab PALCO Marsh some 10 or so years ago. The City is just now ever so slowly beginning work. Trail money won't come until PALCO Marsh is completed.
4. Eureka did put up $50k to get the planning and permitting started on the Elk River Access trail project (Del Norte to Herrick). That planning is under way.
5. I heard from a reliable source that Rob Arkley is doing his own study on the viability of the railroad coming back. He wants a final answer as the rail effects his projects.
Then there is rail banking. Removing the rails and ties but maintaing the right of way with a trail on top. It leaves the potential for the railroad to come back. The NCRA will hear nothing of it.
Bottom line is the NCRA is the biggest obstacle to trails. They do not want to discuss trails period.
Same for Marcus and his excursion train. Zero support from the NCRA and the Harbor District. I like this idea and have ridden the trolly in Astoria that travels their old train tracks along the Columbia.
But it does take ridership in order to maintain it. Even in Astoria they have a hard time and use an all volunteer staff.
12:44 I have an idea that NCRA is having none of it for the same reason we are kicking ourselves over North Coast Water going to Central and Southern California right now.
Didn't somebody sign into law-that we could have our water back if there was a drought and we needed to keep it here?
I don't blame them-Trails Trust can cut their trails someplace else or they can go in with advocates for North Coast rail service. Better together-fighting over it leaves us nowhere.
The NCRA will be broke in 5 years. No rail and no trail.
You will never get a grant to "clean up the tracks", it will just grow back waiting for something that is very unlikely to happen.
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