Comment EI-31277
Received or sent (printed as 9/13/2021)
To the members of the Surface Transportation Board, Please strongly consider the request by the Northcoast Railroad Authority to railbank the Northwestern Pacific Rail line. As a Humboldt County resident (callout to Humboldt South Dakota) since 1998, I have looked forward to the long sought railbanking or "rails to trails" for our County. Notwithstanding the appeal to Tourists (flocking here since COVID) visiting our area for it's natural beauty and being able to enjoy a Tourist Train, the Great Redwood Train has garnered both state and county support. I am confident the majority of local citizenry would also enjoy taking casual tourist train rides around the bay, a different project in the works; and one which a full COAL bearing train system would destroy. Neither the Eel River Canyon’s environmental geology nor the local nature-loving residents would be able to support the heavy levels of big truck and railway traffic reconstruction and maintenance of a railroad from Willits to Humboldt Bay will involve. The natural environment of Humboldt County makes us a difficult place to reach-- wildfires regularly close transportation coridors in Summer/Fall (Routes 199, 299, 36, 101) and strong "atmospheric river" storms close the same highways in the Winter; hauling coal is NOT the way to raise funds for Humboldt County. Please do NOT approve or permitan Investment driven, coal-transporting Railway, for either Humboldt Bay or surrounding ports. Thank you for your serious consideration of my points-- and I'm glad we have a Surface Transportation Board with members who have experience in Railway and in Environmental concerns. I will observe ya'all are *all* from the Midwest and East Coast--- Please come out to Coastal Humboldt California for a tour of our Natural Beauty, very different from your geographical areas. I'm sure Congressman Huffman would love to host you and I'd personally will make cookies for you. Sincerely, Jennifer F Taylor, PhD
Submitted by: Jennifer F Taylor, PhD · Arcata, CA
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/AB-1305-X/comment/EI-31277 · back to the docket sheet