VENTURA, PIRU : Supervisors Grant Loan for Rail Line

County supervisors approved a $7.5-million, interest-free loan Tuesday that will enable a local transportation agency to develop recreational rail travel and bike paths across the county.

The Ventura County Transportation Commission will use the funds to buy a 32-mile rail corridor between Ventura and Piru and another 5 1/2-mile segment between Ventura and Ojai from the Southern Pacific Transportation Co.

The cities of Ventura and Santa Paula have each pitched in $500,000 for the $8.5-million deal with Southern Pacific, which is expected to be finalized Tuesday. Fillmore, the third city in partnership with the commission, has already bought land for the transportation project.

Ginger Gherardi, the commission’s executive director, called the supervisors’ decision to issue a loan for the land crucial toward securing future recreational and economic opportunities for Ventura County.

“In most cases, [officials] let these opportunities go and have to come back years later and buy them at exorbitant prices,” Gherardi said. “I think that the leaders of this county have shown a great deal of vision in taking steps to preserve these corridors now.”

Gherardi said the county’s loan will be fully reimbursed with federal grants.

In the short term, the Santa Paula branch line will handle recreational train travel and some freight service. But officials predict that, eventually, commuter trains will travel between Ventura and Santa Clarita. And areas along the tracks will later feature bike paths, Gherardi said.

The land the commission plans to acquire along the Ojai Trail, beginning near the Ventura County Fairgrounds, will be used to enhance paths.