NORTH COAST RAILROAD AUTHORITY

419 Talmage Road Suite M

Ukiah, Ca 95482

707 463-3280 Phone

707-463-3282 Fax

Mitch Stogner, Executive Director������������������������������������ John Woolley, NCRA Chair

[email protected]����������������������������������������������������� [email protected]

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� (707) 476-2393

VETO OF SB 792 (CHESBRO)

North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) Chairman and Humboldt County Supervisor, John Woolley, issued the following statement in response to the veto of SB 792 (Chesbro):

�Restoring rail service on California�s North Coast is an economic and environmental necessity for our region.� The escalating cost of fossil fuels heightens the need to take advantage of NCRA�s publicly-owned rail corridor that parallels US Highway 101, and connects the deep-water Port of Humboldt Bay to the San Francisco Bay Area and points East.

The veto of SB 792 will not diminish our determination to bring the trains back to the North Coast.� Sen. Chesbro, Assemblymember Berg, and Congressman Thompson remain committed to a public-private partnership that will bring about repair of the line and the resumption of freight and excursion service as soon as possible.�

The NCRA has made much recent progress.� In August, the NCRA utilized a FEMA/OES grant to begin purchasing crossing signals, rolling stock, and begin repairing rail bridges in Sonoma County.� Also in August, thanks to North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson, a $12 million federal loan to NCRA for acquisition of right-of-way was forgiven and $8.6 million was designated for NCRA�s use South of Willits.

We will continue this fight in the interest of sound transportation policy, sound energy policy, the environment, and the economic future of the North Coast.� If anything, this veto shines light on the importance of the goal and causes us to redouble our resolve to restore rail service.�

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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.