North Coast Rail Authority

Recommendations 1

• R1

  Page 16
  The sewer districts listed in this report should explore the possibility of joint efforts for workable solutions to their common problem of Inflow and Infiltration, including the consolidation of long-term engineering and planning services. Consideration should be given to include all sewer districts within Humboldt County, for the purpose of opening dialogue concerning relative issues. Grand Jury Report # 2008-AH-01 North Coast Rail Authority Who Shall Respond: Pursuant to California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05, responses to the Findings and Recommendations of this report shall be provided as follows:  No Response Required Report: The Grand Jury studied the North Coast Rail Authority (NCRA) and its operations for two years. In the ensuing investigation, the Grand Jury interviewed NCRA officials, unaffiliated experts in 14 GRAND JURY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 2007-2008 Final Report railway operations, geologists, earthquake experts familiar with the Eel River Valley, and others who expressed an interest in NCRA activities. The Grand Jury also reviewed a study1 of the long-term financial feasibility of the proposal to restore the rail line between Willits and Eureka, as well as other internal administrative documents. While NCRA operations are in the four counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin, this investigation concerned the Eel River corridor. Rail service between Eureka and San Francisco began in 1914. In 1982, the Southern Pacific Railroad started proceedings to abandon the portion north of Willits because of high maintenance costs. Southern Pacific estimated maintenance for that section was two to three times that of their other nationwide operations. In 1984, Southern Pacific sold the northern portion to a new operator, Eureka Southern, who ran the railroad for about two years before declaring bankruptcy in 1986. In 1989, the State of California, not wanting to see the rights to the railroad corridor lost, created the NCRA. The NCRA used state funding to buy Eureka Southern out of bankruptcy. The NCRA contracted with Northwest Pacific Railway to operate the line. Prior to any train operation, the NCRA was required to bring the tracks to a minimum FRA Class I standard, with a maximum freight train speed of ten miles per hour. This report is not intended to argue either side of the public debate on the railroad issue. It is intended to report on facts that arose from the Grand Jury investigation. It should be noted these facts may not bear the same weight in the future as they appear to have today. Conditions and needs change as communities grow and develop. Humboldt County is no exception. As of this date, it has been over ten years since trains traversed the Eel River Valley. Tracks are broken and twisted with large portions of rail bed entirely missing. This condition is due to highly unstable ground throughout the region and lack of maintenance. Local geologists familiar with the area testified that the effects of earthquakes and natural erosion, in the Eel River Valley, are amplified because of particular soil types found there. A 2003 study2 examined the long-term financial feasibility of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. The study, a thorough examination of anticipated revenues, expenses, and conditions that could produce both, concluded that income generated could not meet expenses over the next twenty- five years. The study did not speculate on operating costs of the railroad. Humboldt County does not give significant money to the NCRA. Supervisor John Wooley's time and effort appears to be the county's only contribution. There is no agreement or plan the county will or will not have financial obligation to the NCRA in the future. It is currently anticipated governmental costs for railroad restoration and operation would be borne by state and federal resources. 1The Long Term Financial and Economic Feasibility of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, 2003, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. 2Ibid. GRAND JURY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 2007-2008 Final Report The NCRA proposal to restore the rail line, from Willits to Eureka, depends heavily on the development of Humboldt Bay and its port facilities. It appears these projects go hand in hand and neither would be viable without the other. The Grand Jury did not examine the link between harbor development and railroad restoration. The connection is only mentioned because of its importance. The Grand Jury concluded that the principal objection to the restoration of the rail line is the enormous cost likely to be incurred. Any benefits from such a project would be other than monetary and limited in scope for the foreseeable future. Grand Jury Report # 2008-CC-01 Grand Jury Investigation Frequency Chart Executive Summary: Each fiscal year a new Grand Jury is appointed and sworn. Continuity between past, present, and future juries is essential in the areas of training, function, documentation, and archival processes. One important historical archive the Grand Jury maintains and updates every year is the Grand Jury Investigation Frequency Chart. This year, the Grand Jury streamlined, updated, and digitized the historical and current investigation frequency charts. Who Shall Respond: Pursuant to California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05, responses to the Findings and Recommendations of this report shall be provided as follows:  No Response Required Report: A perpetual Grand Jury Investigation Frequency Chart is commonly maintained in most counties for quick reference to what a Grand Jury has investigated over the past several years. The Grand Jury of Humboldt County has retained such a record since 1980, though the charts and maintenance processes were somewhat archaic. The 2007-08 Grand Jury streamlined the method used to maintain and update the charts via computer. Frequency data recorded since AD2000 and offered at this time, is based on non- confidential information released in previous reports. It is updated and charted here in a cumulative and comprehensive fashion for informational purposes. Main chart headings are somewhat based on the organization of committees customarily arranged within the jury (committees sometimes investigate matters outside their theme in order to more evenly distribute caseload). Some investigations cross over into more than one committee (or topic) and cannot be compartmentalized. Similarly, one investigative area may have only one check mark under a given year, and that check mark may represent one or several investigations in that area. The chart is not all-inclusive and can be updated with more topics. It should also be noted the civil Grand Jury is free to investigate whatever it chooses within its legal purview, without direction or preference or interference from outside influence (with few 16