Great Redwood Trail Study Indicates $102M Annual Economic and Community Benefit for the North Coast


Great Redwood Trail Map Press release from Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire:

Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire [yesterday] announced a new comprehensive economic and community impact study that shows the remarkable impact the Great Redwood Trail (GRT) will have on the North Coast.

“We know that outdoor recreation is booming and one of the Golden State’s largest economic drivers – worth an estimated $54 billion per year. The Great Redwood Trail is no different. This landmark project will have a lasting positive impact on our local communities, but candidly, no one could have predicted these numbers – they’re huge!” said Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire. “This Trail will help transform our communities, but now we know just how positive it will be for our economy as well. A hundred million dollars a year positive!”

 

“The Great Redwood Trail is already being built and this astonishing report just makes us work all the harder on it,” said Caryl Hart, chair of the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA). “The analysis shows just how valuable this Trail is and why it has such incredible support up and down the North Coast.”

The data heavy 50-page Economic & Vitality Benefit Assessment was researched and drafted by Alta Planning & Design, a national renowned firm focused on active transportation. It was released by the Great Redwood Trail Agency, as part of their work in master planning, designing, and building the Great Redwood Trail.

Highlights from the Impact Study:

  • The Great Redwood Trail will be a transformational economic engine in Northern California.

  • Total annual benefits from the Trail: $102,568,000

  • New recreational, tourism and retail economic benefits: $61,693,000

  • Average trip on the Trail will generate: $64 in food/meals, $60 in retail, $93 in lodging

 

  • New annual tax revenue coming to our communities: $5,490,000 

  • Total new walking/hiking trips per year: 5.3 to 7.9 million

  • Total estimated new bike trips per year: 900,000 to 1.3 million

 

  • Annual trips generated by local residents: 4.1 to 6.1 million

  • Annual trips generated by visitors: 2.1 to 3.1 million

  • The immense scale and scenic beauty of the completed trail will create new recreational experiences that will become destinations for the entire state and beyond.

The above figures do not include local hiring, construction, materials, and maintenance of the Trail, and represent only the portions of the Trail in Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt counties. The southern portion of the Great Redwood Trail, in Marin and Sonoma counties, is being built by the SMART Train and will have significant additional economic benefits for the entire region.

“The Great Redwood Trail is giving us a fantastic opportunity to help expand opportunities for residents and our local economy,” said Ukiah Mayor Mari Rodin. “The economic and community impact report carefully details the far-reaching benefits this world-class trail system will have on the North Coast region.”

“The North Coast has needed an economic shot in the arm for a long time,” said Humboldt County Supervisor Steve Madrone and vice-chair of the GRTA. “This Trail is creating major new opportunities for neighbors and visitors alike to enjoy the great outdoors and this amazing place we all call home. It’s crystal clear the Trail will generate new economic vibrancy along the entire corridor.”

The GRTA has begun the master planning process for the trail and is holding community meetings this spring to discuss all the design, engineering, environmental, management, and community aspects of the trail. Information and meeting schedules can be viewed here: www.GreatRedwoodTrailPlan.org.

Two community meetings will be taking place this week:

Fortuna, March 22, 2023: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. River Lodge Conference Center.

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-redwood-trail-grt-community-workshop-fortuna-tickets-523090426547

Willits, March 23, 2023: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Willits Community Center.

RSVP/Location here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-redwood-trail-grt-community-workshop-willits-tickets-530691541687

Several segments of the Great Redwood Trail are already built and open to the public in Eureka, Arcata, Fortuna, Blue Lake, and Ukiah and more are underway in Willits, along Humboldt Bay, and more.

The Great Redwood Trail was created by the state of California, through the efforts of Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire, who represents the North Coast. It’s replacing the crumbling railroad tracks that have been out of service for decades in Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino counties. In Sonoma and Marin counties, the GRT will run alongside SMART’s modern new passenger rail service.

A copy of the full Economic Benefit Assessment can be found here: https://greatredwoodtrailplan.org/#documents

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

93 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Realist
Guest
Realist
1 year ago

Utopian fuzzy marh

Uri
Guest
Uri
1 year ago
Reply to  Realist

If it will take $5,000,000,000 to change the rail into a trail and if it ever gets done in order to generate $102,000,000 per year how long will it take to break even?

Just Sayin
Guest
Just Sayin
1 year ago

Oh you people love to manipulate numbers for a narrative…… Calling BS, the trail isn’t generating that nonsense.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Just Sayin

Where’s your data?

LSandR
Member
LSandR
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

You don’t even need any data to call BS on their numbers, you tell tell it’s BS just from their numbers. They “estimate” 5.3-7.9 million new walking/hiking trips per year. That would be around 18,000 new trips on the trail every single day of the year, even in inclement weather. If there were so much demand for this trail that an average of 18,000 people per day are going to be using it, it would have been built a long time ago.

Me
Guest
Me
1 year ago

Lots of estimates.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago

What did the study cost…???

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

That is a good ?. If you follow the $, its hard to say. I did find some general information here from 2020:

https://calsta.ca.gov/-/media/calsta-media/documents/appendix-d–cdpr-great-redwood-trail-feasibility-report508remediateda11y.pdf

The main agency and organization involved are listed below:

https://thegreatredwoodtrail.org/

https://greatredwoodtrailplan.org/

Here are a couple articles with different aspects, perspectives and opinions on the subject:

https://theava.com/archives/182774

https://www.kzyx.org/2022-10-26/railbanking-authorized-master-plan-introduced

https://mendofever.com/2022/10/22/great-redwood-trail-overcomes-major-hurdle-after-skunk-train-denied-purchase-of-track-north-of-willits/

This one project has a total of 4 different County Government entities or bureaucracies on their agency Board, not counting all of the numerous special interest groups and ad hoc committees each County and City has along the route. It will be interesting if this project turns into another Eel/Russian River Commission like the dam Potter Valley Project, that had 4 different Counties involved, vying for who’s best interest?

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

Special interest groups and ad hoc committees? I’m not aware that the GRTA is taking any interest in or advice from any special interest groups. Also, as far as I know, the counties involved have no conflicting interests in the trail.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

OMG, yes! Let me give you one example. Jeff Hunerlack; he was appointed by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to represent Humboldt County on the Great Redwood Trail Agency Board, It was stated in this article why:

https://www.madriverunion.com/articles/hunerlach-named-to-lead-redwood-trail/

I’m sorry, but you sound a bit naive when it comes to the inter workings of County and City Government lobbying to get a piece of the pie (Money) from a State Funded project coming thru or into their community!

https://thegreatredwoodtrail.org/board-of-directors/

Last edited 1 year ago
Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

I probably am quite naive; I also have a bad habit of wanting to believe the best of people.
Many of us were quite disappointed when the GRTA picked Hunerlack over Bruce Silvey, who has a wealth of knowledge about rail trails. I understand, Hunerlack knows the right people, but it’s still disappointing.

Last edited 1 year ago
Uri
Guest
Uri
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

It was a unanimous vote from the Board of Supervisors who picked Jeff not GRTA unless McGuire was pulling the strings like he is at GRTA.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

I remember having that same bad habit, and it did not take long for people to change my mind, and became cautiously optimistic. A good rule of thumb, question everything and do your own research, i.e. since the GRTA did not appoint Hunerlack, it was your own Board of Supervisors…

Last edited 1 year ago
Josh Allen
Guest
Josh Allen
1 year ago

Urban Boomer environmentalist utopian BS numbers for tourism because our glorious uniparty elected leaders and their electorate cheerleaders are economically isolated from reality. Literally pandering by Senator Mike to his base in Sonoma and Marin to ensure another election win where he can live high off the taxpayer dollar while throwing peanuts at Humboldt County. When will we realize our county needs to separate from Bay Area politics?!?

Last edited 1 year ago
Sigh
Guest
Sigh
1 year ago
Reply to  Josh Allen

“When will we realize our county needs to separate from Bay Area politics?!?”

When it cleaves off and sinks into the Pacific, ocean lapping at Sis-Q, Trinity, Tehema, Glenn, and Lake.

Non-fiction
Guest
Non-fiction
1 year ago
Reply to  Sigh

It’s so “lovely” when commenters who know so little about a subject act like they do.

Any of these jokers even:

1. Click the link to the 50 page data driven study?

2. Read even 1 page of the study?

Oh, who am I kidding, we all know none of them did either.

Sigh
Guest
Sigh
1 year ago
Reply to  Non-fiction

Something also entertaining:
The number of businesses, including right leaning, who will GLADLY bid on trail-construction contracts and/or supply materials, services, etc. Anyone who wants to “economically isolate” from the heaps of $$$ flowing, well, it’ll be their right do do so, free country and all.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Sigh

Almost none of whom will qualify and even fewer will have the political sway to win. Most likely the biggest local part will be supplying gravel. And everyone knows where that ends up. By all means do it but have a realistic expectation that it will be a very small benefit. Well maybe the local lawyers will get a steady income from the law suits.

Al L Ivesmatr
Guest
Al L Ivesmatr
1 year ago
Reply to  Josh Allen

When the Democrats stop gerrymandering Humboldt and Del Norte and lumping our county in with Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino using a snakelike narrow band up the coast. They took away our voice and elevated the voices in those Uber rich, white, wealthy democrat counties like Marin. Marin values have no relation to ours up here. Hence, we get Paperbag Huffer pushing windmills off our coast while sparing the views of his real constituents who live along the coast off Stinson Beach and Point Reyes. Fact. Tell Paperbag to take his gold paint and move to Hufferville, Ukraine. He can push his windmills on the now Russian controlled Crimean seaport.

D'Tucker Jebs
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Al L Ivesmatr

Yeah! Lumping the contiguous coastal counties together? Makes no sense! Other than a tourism-driven economy, plus fishing, ranching, timber, agriculture, the climate, a similar voter-base, and a connecting interstate highway, what do we even have in common?
Makes much more sense to link us with the Central Valley if you don’t really think too hard on it.

Angela Robinson
Member
Angela Robinson
1 year ago
Reply to  Al L Ivesmatr

If I remember right, Humboldt County voted something like 65% Democrat in the last presidential election. Where would you like that voice to go?

ULLR RoverD
Member
1 year ago

And they’ve probably already spent the money.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  ULLR Rover

Which money? For the study? For the trail design? The trail?

Uri
Guest
Uri
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

They have earmarked $5mill for developing a plan

ULLR RoverD
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

The projected tax revenue. It was sarcasm.

Tnuc
Guest
Tnuc
1 month ago
Reply to  ULLR Rover

Spent millions on easement that was given by state

willow creeker
Member
1 year ago

What a bunch of negative Nancy’s. Tourism is big business. It brings people in, they drop money, have a good time and go home. We get a value put on our beautiful landscape and therefore have an incentive to keep it that way. We get measure z money to help our infrastructure…. It’s this (type of thing) or we become a prepper red neck backwater, which is what some people apparently want.

Littlefoot
Guest
Littlefoot
1 year ago
Reply to  willow creeker

Amazing that a hiking trail gets people so upset. I bet they’re all in support of cutting down Richardson Grove so more big rigs can get up here though.

PenguinnD
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  willow creeker

As with many opinions expressed on most threads on this site, the word “provincial” comes readily to mind.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  willow creeker

For all that, every time the sparkling tourism carrot is waved in Humboldt County, the place has become poorer, more drug addicted and dangerous. Tourism brings in money but how it brings it is a problem… and certainly how that accounting carrot is created makes is worse. It brings in seasonal, low paying jobs in grocery stores, hotels and a few tour group companies. What it costs on the other hand is restrictions on enterprise, lest it damage the tourists being impressed with uninterrupted nature. But it is enterprise that is unconnected to seasonal tourism that allows families to earn a year around income that is more than getting by. Unless something like the commercial Williamsburg or the Plymouth Plantation exists for family visit, “visitors” usually day trip on their way elsewhere. It is not the trails that attract them, they don’t spend days hiking in any numbers or staying in well known resorts (which really become fewer each year)- they pass through. They want to visit Lady Bird Johnson for an hour or so and nothing else. And look at the fate of Orrick, the closest commercial place to that. Or look to needed a permit to visit Fern Canyon.

A person may want a continuous trail to suit an environmental agenda for a few to enjoy but it’s nonsense to think of it as a cash cow for the rest of the population unless some planning for places that act as attractions happens. The real tourist dollars come from the highway. If a place becomes popular, the Park Service limits its use. They separated the Newton B Drury Parkway from 101 when it got too crowded. There is no urgency to fix the Mattole Road. And the Federal fire response is more concerned about their trees than their neighbors. They work to suppress economic benefit for the local population more than create it. That’s just reality.

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

Agreed. I fully supported the establishment of Redwood National Park but they promised Orick so much and look at it now! I don’t trust governmental cheerleaders and for good reason…

c u 2morrowD
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  willow creeker

lol, we’re just a bunch of phat asses sittin’ behind our computer screens, thinking I’ll never use that trail so it’s a waist.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  c u 2morrow

Or we’re just people who’ve seen this song and dance too many times to think it’s a big deal.

c u 2morrowD
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

maybe or maybe this new guy named Mike will see it through and surprise us all.

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  willow creeker

I’m just thinking about that wonderful hike along the tracks in Willits….such beautiful nature and such

Truth Be Told
Member
Truth Be Told
1 year ago

Key words: “when completed” – News Flash: This colossal boondoggle will not be completed in any of our lifetimes, if ever.

The money spent in planning would go a long way to repairing the right of way for train service around Humboldt Bay and in Mendo from Willits south (only fools think a continuous trail will ever be built through the Eel River Canyon).

c u 2morrowD
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Truth Be Told

it’s easier to maintain a trail then rail road tracks

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  c u 2morrow

Railroad tracks are used by all for shipping goods. A trail is used by a few for recreation. Not the same effect.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

Trains are excellent for shipping goods and moving people, but not here. The Eel River Canyon’s geology has a long history of dumping railroads into the Eel River. It simply can’t be done with current technology, and even if it was, it’s certainly not financially feasible. If we had three or four times the population, it still wouldn’t be possible.
As for few people using the trail, the Waterfront Trail currently serves 600 people per day. Once it stretches from Arcata to CR, expect many more. It’s not just for tourists.

c u 2morrowD
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

ya get what I mean ….. right ?

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  c u 2morrow

Trail’s less likely to slide into the Eel River.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Truth Be Told

Truth be told, there’s no repairing the railroad with today’s technology; maybe in a century or so, but not now. The trail planning money would be a small drop in a very large bucket.
No one ever said this was going to be a quick project, and Alta knows what they’re doing; they’ll figure out the Eel River Canyon; an 18″ – 36″ strip of dirt is a lot simpler to design than a railroad.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

So don’t tout the trail committee’s economic pipe dreams. Whatever it is, there is not the population who will generate lots of income in the lifetime of anyone living here. Probably never. You want it because you want it and nothing more.

Uri
Guest
Uri
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

Sorry Korina what you are saying is not truth. The rail could be repaired with today’s technology.
What is this large bucket of which you speak?
How do you see the tunnels that are collapsed being reconstructed for a trail?

D'Tucker Jebs
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Uri

It could be repaired for an estimated 2.4 billion dollars. https://www.yournec.org/the-end-of-the-line-a-spur-track-to-nowhere/
But for what? There’s not enough shipping in and out of the area to justify it.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Uri

Who’s going to put that kind of money into a failed railroad to a relatively poor, vastly underpopulated corner of the state? And what would we ship? All I’ve heard is gravel; we have great gravel, but it’s not that great.
The railroad corridor needs to be cleaned up, trail or no, and the state’s going to pay for it, because NWPCo certainly wouldn’t.
The trail planners will figure out the route for the trail. It’s their job.

SamD
Member
Sam
1 year ago

Every state/federally funded project should come with a real-time budget/expense spreadsheet shared with the taxpayer. The transparency would build trust and efficiency

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Sam

I’d love to see Caltrans do that. XD

LGR
Guest
LGR
1 year ago

I can’t wait for the trail to clean up the mess that was left by the railroad, leaving us access to an incredible landscape. I think that people will come in droves to access a relatively flat trail surrounded by such beauty. Unfortunately the unhoused will be an issue to consider on either end of every town this trail passes through. What this trail brings to Alderpoint will be a barometer of its success.

Uri
Guest
Uri
1 year ago

Pure fantasy.
What is left out is the $5 billion estimate that was established to build and remediate this rail corridor.
What is left out is the fact the GRTA have purposely removed existing and proposed uses of the rail corridor that would produce real revenue such as excursion trains and rail bikes.
McGuire and Madrone have betrayed the legacy of what this could be.
Let’s not forget the Kool aid they keep passing out ignores the reality that the trail is not going to be able to go around all the tunnel collapses, trestle removal and washouts. The easement is restricted to the rail prism essentially and the the GRTA folks have pissed off the landowners big time making work arounds unlikely.
Lets not forget this has already netted Doug Bosco millions through his holdings in NWPco and putting the Coastal Conservancy in charge is telling. You guessed it Bosco is chairman of the Coastal Conservancy.

c u 2morrowD
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Uri

you under estimate the power of the federal government

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Uri

The $5 billion to clean up after the NCRA, you mean. And, again, Alta will figure out the route, it’s what they do. You could come to tonight’s planning workshop in Fortuna and see what ideas they have. Do you still live in Humboldt?
The Surface Transportation Board, the federal entity in charge of railroads, ruled that the Skunk Train is a private business not a public utility; they didn’t say the company can’t fix that collapsed tunnel, only that they can’t use taxpayer dollars to do it.
If I remember correctly, the Coastal Conservancy was chosen as the most capable agency to handle a project like this. I think it’s temporary, until it’s built, but I’m not sure.

Uri
Guest
Uri
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

You realize the corridor exists Because of the Railroad right? The railroad failed because NCRA was never sufficiently funded to keep it up.
With $5 bill there could easily be a railroad that produced revenue rather than a trail that does not.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Uri

The railroad failed because of the Eel River Canyon.

Grae Faux
Guest
Grae Faux
1 year ago

see also economic benefits of the California High Speed Rail : https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Economic-Impact-Factsheet.pdf

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago

Why are benefits primarily calculated in terms of money. What real benefit is bestowed on this area by making it accessible to outsiders. What detriment is there to the environment. Are trails more important than fixing our terrible roads and bridges. What is the reason to pay for such a study? Is it only an attempt to justify the project that the city people will put through anyway, regardless of consequences.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

It’s making it accessible to us. The Humboldt Bay Trail will provide a safe way for people to not have to use cars to get where they’re going. The connection between Arcata and Eureka will begin construction this spring, and extending the trail from Tooby Rd. to CR is beginning.
As for street repair, it’s a different pot of money.
And remember, every bike you see is another car not cluttering up your road.

Griffon
Guest
Griffon
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

I thought there was already a trail from Arcata to Eureka. Maybe I’m wrong.

They should just built this thing though. It will happen someday regardless. It’s just a matter of how much money they want to waste talking about it.

Trails are a good thing!

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Griffon

Construction on the middle (and final) section is scheduled to start this spring.

Uri
Guest
Uri
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

Please don’t forget the bay trail design takes away any trolly system that would be hugely popular and available to those less able.
The trail is for the physically privileged

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Uri

I’m not forgetting it, I just don’t care. I want local people to be able to get out of their steel sensory isolation cages and enjoy the beautiful place we live in.
I used to commute from Arcata to Eureka on my bike on the 101 corridor in the early mornings, before traffic got bad; it was quiet, with the early sun occasionally peeking through the marine layer and glinting off the water (or mud) while flocks of shore birds spun and dove and geese honked overhead on their way to breakfast. I’m not a particularly fast rider, but I enjoyed the sensation of my muscles working, moving myself as my bike rolled quietly under me. And then I hit the Eureka Slough bridge with cars zooming past right next to me and it all went to poop. Still, I arrived at work energized and ready to go. What’s wrong with wanting to share that experience?
There is nothing keeping people who use wheelchairs from using the trail.
A trolley would be for the financially privileged, assuming the THA was able to raise the $30+ million to replace the rusted out rails and ties around the bay; bus fare costs $2.10 with a fare card and a bike ride costs breakfast.

Uri
Guest
Uri
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Not sure how many times this needs to be said.
Doug bosco made several millions by getting NCRA to pay off the Company NWPco in order for the rail to be rail banked.
Bosco heads the Coastal Conservancy who is getting millions more to “study” the trail. the CC also just bought the Lone Pine ranch which is on the rail corridor.
McGuires henchman Jason Lies and NCRA former director Mitch Stogner were both staffers for Bosco during his time in office.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Uri

So what? Sounds like Mr. Bosco knows his business. You do know the CC is a state government agency, right? The ‘millions’ is going from one government pocket to another; I don’t see how Mr. Bosco is getting anything more than his salary.
The CC didn’t buy the Lone Pine Ranch, the Wildlands Conservancy did. Please get your facts straight. https://wildlandsconservancy.org/preserves/eelrivercanyon
Jason Liles isn’t a ‘henchman’, he’s a staffer for Senator McGuire.
Are you implying these men are corrupt? If so, please show your evidence. Otherwise, stop with the baseless accusations, you’re making yourself look bad.

Truth Be Told
Member
Truth Be Told
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

Please get YOUR facts straight – Bosco and his NWP Co partner, John Williams, were paid several million dollars for uncollectible loans to NCRA and several million more for the rights to operate on the NCRA right of way. People also forget that NWP Co successfully operated on the NCRA right of way in Sonoma County since 2011, making millions more for Bosco but never paid a dime in lease payments to NCRA. Yes, McGuire and Liles smile in public but are corrupt behind the scenes operators.

Sigh
Guest
Sigh
1 year ago

Stop and think:
Hundreds of million$ if not a billion$ or more of OUTSIDE construction money coming INTO Humboldt and Mendo. Big neon sign is flashing “Opportunity, straight ahead”. It ain’t a matter of if, but when. Have current profession, older, retired? Fine, continue on. But got kids, want them to stay local but concerned about jobs? Opportunity, straight ahead. But gotta make effort to directly benefit, gotta plan, to position. Something longer term? Track where the State will build in Humboldt / Mendo and when, think of a business or industry that can benefit post-construction. If it takes 30-50 or more years to build, if they might only build so much trail, so what; it’s gobs of build-money flowing for 30-50 years. And miles and miles of trail will be used by folk who spend $, decades onward, and tax-revenue generated. Even if trail-use revenue was half of projections, it’s still tens million$ coming INTO the region. The benefits, build & usage; when you stop and think, it ain’t rocket science to see.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Sigh

If you’ve been observing here for awhile, local contractors rarely get the money. Contractors low bid from areas where business has already been established in a big way. Union workers are mostly from outside. Federal contracting rules favor big businesses with a history of working for them, lots of experience meeting peculiar and petty social regulation favored by government and an established union presence. In other words not us. Just what you- got a job, keep on. Have kids who need a job? They move to where the jobs already exist. Again not here. Besides casual labor is often done by CCC with people pulled from outside too, along with volunteers.. Locals may occasionally get work as a subcontractor for surveying or highway contracting for a season but the real money goes to Redding or Santa Rosa or Oakland. This isn’t our first rodeo. At least for some of us. Here there will be continuous environmental law suits from lobbyists and tribes, land that is notoriously unstable and political representation that counts votes elsewhere. Much land is already held by Federal and State parks- they will see advantage of expansion so will piggy back expensive claims on it. And we’re only a part of the project with many difficulties. Yes, it likely will get done in some fashion but having starry-eyed fantasies are a waste of time.

Sigh
Guest
Sigh
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

Gosh, yeah, we should throw in the towel at getting piece of hundreds of million$ coming down the pike. Let’s pop-poo it all, turn away, hang our heads, kick rocks down by the river.

Nah.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Sigh

I shouldn’t have to be this blunt but you seem very resistent to political realities. No one’s going to turn down anything. Look up the rules for Federal and State contracts and the extraneous political regulations to even apply, who wins them and who doesn’t. Most locals won’t even be able to afford to submit a proposal if they are even made aware a contract is being put to bid. And then see who wins the contracts. Government contracting is a specialized field. You’ll find the same names always win. Even after a failure to perform, such companies would just reorganize under a new name and bid again. Because they have experience. The winners will likely throw a few crumbs to established locals, probably Mercer Frazier, but nothing more.

The locals have no ability to approve or reject anything. No one is asking for opinions. Not for real. There will likely be the occasional hearing, required by law, at which people will voice a want or object to something. And after the hearing what was decided by the committee in charge in the first place will proceed with what they were going to do anyway. Because, while hearings are mandatory, there is no rules that gives the results any value. There are in fact standardized forms for acknowledging input and why it is rejected. The project will move on barring a catastrophic failure of government. It’s going to complete in maybe 20 or 30 years in fits and starts. What I’m saying is how silly it is to think a trail will generate much income for locals.

Sigh
Guest
Sigh
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

Out on limb of tangent. Keep going.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Sigh

Just because you don’t see a point doesn’t mean there isn’t one. No surprise. But if it makes you happy, cheer all you want.

Karl Verick
Guest
Karl Verick
1 year ago
Reply to  Sigh

It ain’t rocket science. Look at the trail banked Elroy Sparta trail i Wisconsin, or the money generated by the Appalachian Trail. As for physical privilege, The current three major trails, Appalacian, Continental Divide, and Pacific Crest, all switchback through mountains. The Arcata to Eureka section will experience major commuter traffic. For transportation and recreation, we need less carbon use. More bikes and boots, less RVs.

Uri
Guest
Uri
1 year ago
Reply to  Karl Verick

You’re being sarcastic right?

PenguinnD
Member
1 year ago

Outworlders possibly invading the North Coast armed with hiking boots and bicycles – oh, the humanity!

c u 2morrowD
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Penguinn

roflmao

WD40
Guest
WD40
1 year ago

I will be playing Deliverance music for many of the trail walkers. By the time they get to my section of the trail they will be 30 miles from anywhere.
Don’t wander off the trail.
The hills have eyes.
Sleep tight.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
1 year ago
Reply to  WD40

Wow, if you were shooting for creepy, you nailed it!

Will this trail system allow motorized EV bicycles, Segway’s, mobility scooter’s or skateboards etc.?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ4EisYOpdc&t=1s

https://www.ecomobl.com/product/ecomobl-m24-real-all-terrain-electric-mountain/?gclid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRuQW4LkTYLLif5zmAnyrqb1aV7TIVNDSjT2iZwCrptiffJn1mks6eBoC5McQAvD_BwE

And maybe I’m the only one to say it outloud, but it sure seems like a easy way to transport, export or import illicit goods and services under the radar, from Humboldt County to the Bay Area, just say’n…

Sigh
Guest
Sigh
1 year ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

If shooting for paranoid, nailed it, outloud, just say’n.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

Highway 101 is even easier.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

Easier don’t mean safer! 101 has CHP, Sheriff, Police, DEA, license plate readers, traffic video cameras and what does the GRT have?

If you were able to get on the GRT at Alderpoint, use an EV bicycle and extra batteries, you could reach Marin in less than a day or vice-versa, kinda like how squirrels use telephone lines to get from point A to point B…

sq3.jpg
Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  WD40

Wait, are you threatening random strangers? Sheesh.

Bigfoot
Guest
Bigfoot
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

You think just go saunter down the trail in western Humboldt, good luck with that. I know one ranch owner already lawyer up with hundreds of properties along the trail. The east agreement was only for the railroad. Not a trail used by the public. A lot of mountain lions down here, they love tourists on trails good eating, and they don’t discriminate.

Last edited 1 year ago
Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Bigfoot

Has that ranch owner thought about opening a campground and charge the rubes $ for a patch of dirt?
Good grief, how common are mountain lion attacks out there? Not the first backcouuntry trail ever built.

Angela Robinson
Member
Angela Robinson
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare. About 20 confirmed attacks have occurred in California in more than a century of record-keeping, and only three have been fatal, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.”


WD40
Guest
WD40
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

How about charging a toll to cross said ranch owners property?

WD40
Guest
WD40
1 year ago
Reply to  WD40

A toll is a toll. A roll is a roll. If we don’t get no tolls, then we don’t eat no rolls.

WD40
Guest
WD40
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

The state will need to install this trail over my dead body. If you want to go hiking then go to the national forest. That way at least you won’t be trespassing on private property. The railroad easement was ABANDONED. As in it doesn’t belong to the state.
Know that this is a publicity stunt.

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  WD40

Formal abandonment is part of the railbanking process. Railbanking means that the right-of-way will be preserved until such time as a railroad becomes feasible; until then, it will be used as a trail.

WD40
Guest
WD40
1 year ago
Reply to  Korina42

Good, if feasibility is part of the deal then the trail can only be established on a temporary basis until the rail road can be brought back online. If reestablishing railroad is not feasible then it cannot be rail banked. The whole reason for rail banking was to preserve the railroad for future use, either for freight or commuter traffic. There must be some expectation that trains will run the line again, which there is not.

From wikipedia
“The trail will pass through the Eel River Canyon Preserve which includes the Grand Canyon of the Wild and Scenic Eel River, home to dozens of endangered species and rare wildlife.[10][11] The trail alignment through the Eel River will be challenging due to erosive geology and some failing infrastructure, including tunnels, bridges, and trestles.[12]: 3  The project also has to deal with private property owners on either side of the trail right-of-way.[13] Two or three years of public meetings will be held before the master plan is released.[4]”

From scc.ca.gov/projects

“Railbanking is a method, established in the amended 1983 National Trails System Act, to preserve an out-of-service rail corridor through interim use as a trail. Railbanking has successfully preserved thousands of miles of rail corridors across the United States. The GRTA is mandated to undertake the process of railbanking the rail corridor with the Surface Transportation board.
The Great Redwood Trail Master Plan & Community Engagement Plan began development in Fall 2022. Informed by robust community and tribal engagement plans, the master plan will serve as the guiding document for future development of the Great Redwood Trail. The plan will develop priority projects, design guidelines, cost estimates, economic impact assessments, and recommendations for co-benefit projects including natural resource restoration projects. The plan is anticipated to be completed in early 2024.”

So to review there is no master plan and the line has not been rail banked.

Huh? Sounds like there isn’t even a master plan yet it is being touted like it is a done deal. The state got the cart before the horse again, and you are helping to push it.

Susan Nolan
Guest
Susan Nolan
1 year ago

If there’s going to be 9.2 million other visitors, I’ll probably stay home.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Susan Nolan

9.2 million other visitors…???

Yikes…!!!That’s a lot of urination and defecation…

What’s the plan for all of that along the “Wild and Scenic” designated Eel River…???

It’s probably going to be stopping by, or at least swinging by, the River Lodge meeting area eventually…

Someone should probably be bringing it up there…

Figuratively speaking of course, before is starts literally being brought up there…

Seriously, without proper sanitation, it could quickly become a health hazard…

Korina42D
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

You may be surprised to learn that this isn’t the first rail trail to be built, and certainly not the first to traverse remote locations. I don’t know the answers, but Alta Planning, professional trail planners, do. You can also google the Katy Trail in Missouri; it’s the most similar rail trail to the GRT.

SamD
Member
Sam
1 year ago

Modern High-speed rail: Too complex, sorry

Normal 1850’s style rail: Hmmm still too hard

Dirt Trail : *fingers crossed*

Good luck
Guest
Good luck
1 year ago

Do people realize how far out in the middle of nowhere this trail will take you. Better bring your tent and all the property owners will love that