SANTA CLARA VALLEY : Federal Grant to Help Purchase Rail Line
The California Transportation Commission awarded a group of local agencies $3.5 million this week, which local officials say will be used to help purchase the Santa Clara Valley rail line from the Southern Pacific Transportation Co.
The cities of Fillmore, Santa Paula and Ventura joined Ventura County and the Ventura County Transportation Commission in applying for the federal funding, approved Thursday.
The local group hopes to secure the badly neglected 32-mile right of way--running just east of Piru to Montalvo--for public use, including a hiking trail, dinner train excursions and other rail uses.
“There’s some other funding that has to be worked out, but this is a good start,” said Santa Paula Public Works Director Norm Wilkinson, who spearheaded the application process.
Local officials estimate they need $9 million to make a deal with Southern Pacific.
“I’m hopeful (that) within the next six to eight months we should be able to finish a purchase,” said Ginger Gherardi, executive director of the county transportation commission.
Santa Paula Administrator Arnold Dowdy said the city will ask the commission to fund the remaining portion of the purchase.
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