SMART approves pact to share rail line with freight trains

<p>The North Bay's commuter rail board Wednesday approved joint operations on the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, setting the stage for cargo trains to roll in Sonoma County as soon as next week.</p><p>Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit directors voted 9-1 for an agreement that covers dispatching, scheduling, maintenance, construction, insurance and other track-sharing rules.</p><p>The green light for freight trains now depends on a similar vote Monday from the North Coast Railroad Authority, which controls cargo service. The authority also is expected to adopt an environmental report on the project.</p><p>“I'm ready to go,” said John Williams, president of NWP Co., the private company chosen to provide the freight service. NWP trains could roll next Monday or Tuesday if the authority gives the go-ahead, he said.</p><p>It will take time to build business, but there's interest from shippers including grain, lumber and wine companies, Williams said.</p><p>Last month, federal transportation regulators lifted a a 10-year embargo on freight traffic over the railroad between Napa County and Windsor. They halted trains in 2001 after the route was damaged by heavy storms.</p><p>Since then, the authority has spent more than $60 million to repair and reopen the 62-mile stretch. It remains closed north of Windsor.</p><p>SMART and NCRA have been working on the track-sharing agreement for more than three years. SMART plans to run commuter trains in Marin and Sonoma starting in 2014.</p><p>SMART board members said Wednesday they favor the return of freight service in the meantime. </p><p>“We've got a working agreement,” said director Carol Russell. “We owe it to business people to get this train on the tracks.”</p><p>SMART's approval won't be effective unless NCRA also votes in favor.</p><p>NCRA was scheduled to vote on the agreement last week, but postponed action until June 20 after three Humboldt County environmental groups threatened legal action to halt the trains.</p>