CA Coastal CommissionConcern: Mendocino has requested that the CA Coastal Commission "find" its plans for development on the Noyo Headlands and the mouth of Pudding Creek 'consistent" with the regulations the Coastal Act has in place to protect our Coast and ocean.
True: Mendocino Railway has applied for a Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing loan from the Department of Transportation to "refurbish tracks, bridges, and a tunnel."
True:
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Each year, tens of thousands of Americans enjoy rides through the North Coast redwoods on the world-famous Skunk Train and railbikes. This outdoor experience generates millions of dollars in visitor spending essential to protecting our economy which is largely dependent on its hospitality and tourism industries for jobs and tax revenue for to support local public services.
We are asking for the support of friends like you who value this magical experience and its economic benefits to our economy. Mendocino Railway, which operates the Skunk Train, has applied for a federal loan to refurbish tracks, bridges, and a tunnel. The application process encourages public comments and this is where you can make a difference. We prepared an email for you. Just click and send. It takes just seconds, even from your phone! The loan is also important to restoring full freight and passenger service and for sustaining rail operations that assist in environmental and wildfire mitigation programs essential to protecting wildlife and the old-growth forests. Do not wait to take action. The Department of Transportation will make its decision soon. With your support, we can enhance our rail operations and the magical experience that is essential to attracting visitors and sustaining our local economy and jobs. |
RailroadThe Grassroots Institute/Noyo Headlands Group and the City of Fort Bragg and others who are concerned about the way that Mendocino Railway assumed title to this important piece of property and their plans to use it to make a profit for investors located out of the area oppose both the loan and any finding that it is going through either the Coastal Permit process or any local and regional use or building permits.
Subject: DENY LOAN APPLICATION FROM MENDOCINO RAILWAY IN FORT BRAGG, CALIFORNIA!
Date: April 14, 2022 at 9:08:41 PM PDT To: Carlos.Monje@dot.gov Dear Under Secretary Monje: Mendocino Railway, which operates the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg, California, has recently applied for a loan from the Department of Transportation to refurbish tracks, bridges and a tunnel. A a resident of Fort Bragg, I fervently urge denial of this loan application because the Municipal Railway has claimed it is part of the national railroad system and is therefore a public utility when in fact it is an excursion train that goes 3.5 miles inland to the damaged tunnel and returns. It claimed its public utility status to take 250+ acres of prime ocean frontage (its depot is at one end) by eminent domain and paid a paltry amount of $1.2 million for this prime property to Koch/Georgia Pacific Lumber. Note, the property contains serious toxins (i.e., dioxin, arsenic, heavy metals) from the milling process that Georgia Pacific was responsible for clean up and now the land is under the ownership of Municipal Railway which claims it can ignore local and state toxin cleanup requirements because of its public utility status. The City of Fort is suing in Superior Court contesting the Municipal Railway Corporation is a public utility. Residents of the Mendocino Coast are appealing to the California Coastal Commission to insist on toxin cleanup and environmental protection of the ocean frontage (Noyo Headlands) from becoming a tourist Choo Choo Land. Municipal Railway has applied to the Coastal Commission for approval of extension of tracks over more of the ocean frontage. The Municipal Railway has not used its considerable profits from train and rail bike rides to repair the damaged tunnel but instead has applied for a loan from the Department of Transportation. PLEASE DENY THE LOAN. Respectively, Susan Nutter 950 Glass Beach Drive Fort Bragg, CA 95437 ReplyReply to allForward VIA EMAIL AND U.S. MAIL The Honorable Carlos Monje Under Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Re: Mendocino Railway RRIF Loan Application Dear Under Secretary Monje: Although we have not received a copy of the application materials, it recently came to our attention that the Mendocino Railway has an outstanding application for a Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing loan (RRIF). The City of Fort Bragg (City) does not support Mendocino Railway’s application and does not believe that its application is forthright or that granting the loan is in the best interest of our town. The City of Fort Bragg is a small coastal community of 7,300 residents perched on the bluff tops overlooking the Pacific Ocean in northern Mendocino County
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