Important May 1st SMART meeting - Northwestern Pacific Railroad Network2024-03-29T06:32:53Zhttps://nwprr.net/forum/topics/important-may-1st-smart-meeting?commentId=3290209%3AComment%3A193245&feed=yes&xn_auth=no There are two Novato to Suis…tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-11:3290209:Comment:1935952019-05-11T19:33:12.878ZRichard Sotelohttps://nwprr.net/profile/RichardSotelo
<p> There are two Novato to Suisun feasibility studies on the SMART website. The one released May 3rd is 93 pages long with a letter from Manisourian to California dept. of transportation. The other study is only 39 pages long. Among other things it turns out that SMART owns the Right of Way all the way up to and including the Brazos Bridge. They even point out a local railroad lift bridge that is currently not used since 2000, the Alameda-Fruitvale Railroad Bridge. They are thinking that…</p>
<p> There are two Novato to Suisun feasibility studies on the SMART website. The one released May 3rd is 93 pages long with a letter from Manisourian to California dept. of transportation. The other study is only 39 pages long. Among other things it turns out that SMART owns the Right of Way all the way up to and including the Brazos Bridge. They even point out a local railroad lift bridge that is currently not used since 2000, the Alameda-Fruitvale Railroad Bridge. They are thinking that would be a good choice to replace the Black Point bridge. A lot more information. They want to do this but the state will have to pay for it. No money from Amendment Q will go to this project. They are using the crowding on HWY 37 as an alternative to sell it.</p> eBay???
Seriously I wondered…tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-04:3290209:Comment:1934782019-05-04T20:44:34.839ZRichard C. Brandhttps://nwprr.net/profile/RichardCBrand
<p>eBay???</p>
<p>Seriously I wondered about that too as a new bridge is very expensive. The engineer said the existing bridge is not salvageable and replacement is required.</p>
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<p>eBay???</p>
<p>Seriously I wondered about that too as a new bridge is very expensive. The engineer said the existing bridge is not salvageable and replacement is required.</p>
<p></p> I wonder. Where does one fin…tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-04:3290209:Comment:1931502019-05-04T19:49:29.980ZRichard Sotelohttps://nwprr.net/profile/RichardSotelo
<p> I wonder. Where does one find a used railroad bridge? I know the Petaluma river bridge was once in service at Galveston, TX. Coos Bay Railroad just finished a major overhaul of a swing bridge.</p>
<p> I wonder. Where does one find a used railroad bridge? I know the Petaluma river bridge was once in service at Galveston, TX. Coos Bay Railroad just finished a major overhaul of a swing bridge.</p> All good questions. As to fu…tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-02:3290209:Comment:1933502019-05-02T20:33:42.916ZRichard C. Brandhttps://nwprr.net/profile/RichardCBrand
<p>All good questions. As to funding that question did come up with the board members who represent voters in Sonoma and Marin County who were promised Cloverdale to Larkspur. This extension into Napa County would have to funded in part by a tax in that county.</p>
<p>As to options, I would support option 2 except for the wildcard which I mentioned before, a possible Amtrak Calif. connection via a new Richmond San Rafael bridge. That of course is a long way off.</p>
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<p>All good questions. As to funding that question did come up with the board members who represent voters in Sonoma and Marin County who were promised Cloverdale to Larkspur. This extension into Napa County would have to funded in part by a tax in that county.</p>
<p>As to options, I would support option 2 except for the wildcard which I mentioned before, a possible Amtrak Calif. connection via a new Richmond San Rafael bridge. That of course is a long way off.</p>
<p> </p> I read the report myself and…tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-02:3290209:Comment:1933492019-05-02T19:46:57.252ZRichard Sotelohttps://nwprr.net/profile/RichardSotelo
<p> I read the report myself and support option #2. But I also have ideas and questions.</p>
<p>Since this rail line is partially in Napa and Solano counties, do they have to hold elections to be included in SMART. Will the state contribute funds? Since UPRR owns the track from Napa River to Suisun, will they contribute funds to made infrastructure improvements? Why run a separate rail line from Ignacio Wye to Hamilton Field? Yes, SMART needs to finish the line original line from Larkspur to…</p>
<p> I read the report myself and support option #2. But I also have ideas and questions.</p>
<p>Since this rail line is partially in Napa and Solano counties, do they have to hold elections to be included in SMART. Will the state contribute funds? Since UPRR owns the track from Napa River to Suisun, will they contribute funds to made infrastructure improvements? Why run a separate rail line from Ignacio Wye to Hamilton Field? Yes, SMART needs to finish the line original line from Larkspur to Cloverdale first. But can the state help with funds to get this done before 2027?</p>
<p>Just typing as fast as things occur to me.</p> I read the report on SMART's…tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-02:3290209:Comment:1934682019-05-02T18:06:52.046ZMichael H Harrisonhttps://nwprr.net/profile/MichaelHHarrison
<p>I read the report on SMART's site. I would support Option 2 more... I did notice that there is a huge contingency budget on their estimates. Not that its a bad thing, but I think SMART doesn't want to have another "we broke" moment. </p>
<p>I read the report on SMART's site. I would support Option 2 more... I did notice that there is a huge contingency budget on their estimates. Not that its a bad thing, but I think SMART doesn't want to have another "we broke" moment. </p>
https://youtu.be/8B-tMM7ho54
tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-02:3290209:Comment:1932562019-05-02T11:35:58.633ZDave S.https://nwprr.net/profile/dms
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/8B-tMM7ho54" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/8B-tMM7ho54</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://youtu.be/8B-tMM7ho54" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/8B-tMM7ho54</a></p>
<p></p> It was a good presentation. …tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-02:3290209:Comment:1934672019-05-02T02:07:48.075ZRichard C. Brandhttps://nwprr.net/profile/RichardCBrand
<p>It was a good presentation. I am impressed with SMART's Chief Engineer and his data. But they had NO passenger demand data from the State Transportation Authority (STA) who were the drivers to have SMART do this study which was fully funded by the State.</p>
<p>Short summary of the prez, they proposed two options. Option 1 would upgrade the RoW to support passenger service from the Hamilton station to the Amtrak station at Suison and would use heavy GE type locos and 1960's surplus…</p>
<p>It was a good presentation. I am impressed with SMART's Chief Engineer and his data. But they had NO passenger demand data from the State Transportation Authority (STA) who were the drivers to have SMART do this study which was fully funded by the State.</p>
<p>Short summary of the prez, they proposed two options. Option 1 would upgrade the RoW to support passenger service from the Hamilton station to the Amtrak station at Suison and would use heavy GE type locos and 1960's surplus coaches. The Black Pt bridge would be replaced with a used bridge as well as 28 wood bridges but no other bridges including Wingo would have to be replaced. This option including rolling stock and new platforms would cost $880 and could be in operation in about 4 years after funding. Would carry about 2100 passengers/day.</p>
<p>Option 2, would be to bring the line up to FRA Class 4 service and carry up to 5100 passengers/day with more passing tracks and either use existing diesels ala option 1 or DMU's or newer electric or other power. This would cost $1.2+B and take 5 years,</p>
<p>Mansourian made it very clear that their study was done at the request of Calif STA and that any implementation it would not allowed to slow up the build out of the line to Cloverdale.</p>
<p>As for NWP there was no mention of shutting out freight and indeed freight and indeed was mentioned to co-exist on the line for both options.</p>
<p>As for NWP after the meeting I drove up to Willowside and saw 2009 sitting on the spur. Several hoppers lined up on the entrance but could not tell what was happening or whether they were delivering feed or materials for Lagunitas.</p>
<p>Richard</p> I see. Would be cool if Amtra…tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-01:3290209:Comment:1934662019-05-01T23:49:13.343ZNicohttps://nwprr.net/profile/Nico
<p>I see. Would be cool if Amtrak used the vacant lots behind the stations in Santa Rosa and Petaluma as terminals.</p>
<p>I see. Would be cool if Amtrak used the vacant lots behind the stations in Santa Rosa and Petaluma as terminals.</p> Out of how many times I have…tag:nwprr.net,2019-05-01:3290209:Comment:1933462019-05-01T18:58:08.395ZMichael H Harrisonhttps://nwprr.net/profile/MichaelHHarrison
<p>Out of how many times I have driven over the 580, I still forget about it. That would be a fantastic use of that old thing. </p>
<p>Out of how many times I have driven over the 580, I still forget about it. That would be a fantastic use of that old thing. </p>