Author Rick Coates
The California North Coast is moving ahead with a beautiful trail through the scenic Eel River Canyon and extending the potential route of our new Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit(SMART). The commuter/tourist train has been both a financial and transportation success. California’s Governor Jerry Brown has just signed legislation that creates a new trail authority and transfers ownership of neglected rail right-of-way to SMART. This is an exciting development for those of us who are fans of trails and rails. It will provide another way for tourists to travel without their car, extend the SMART train potentially as far north as Willits linking three large counties, and get freight out of big trucks and onto rails. EcoRing encouraged State Senator McGuire to move this legislation and pressed the Governor to sign it. It resolves many economic and environmental problems simultaneously.