(The following article by John Dickey was posted on the Appeal-Democrat website on May 14.)
YUBA CITY, Calif. — The Union Pacific Railroad Co. has filed to abandon its railroad line through Yuba City.
The move had been expected for some time after the railroad’s main customer, Harter Tomato Co., closed its plant here, leaving the line with nothing to haul in Yuba City.
“Because there’s no traffic on the line, we can file the short version,” John Bromley, spokesman for Union Pacific, said.
In its filing with the Surface Transportation Board on April 20, the railroad said that shipper plant relocations off the line, and changes in logistics patterns, have eliminated activity on the line. There is no practical possibility for substantial new business.
Business fell off dramatically in 2003 – only one car was handled on the line in that year. In 2002, 672 cars were handled on the line.
The abandonment will represent the end of the line for the section of track built in 1907. The 3.39-mile section stretches from the Fifth Street bridge to Harter Road.
Despite the rail line’s long history, the railroad says there are no historic structures on the line, according to the filing.
Knox Mellon, state historic preservation officer, concurred with the transportation board’s finding that the bridge structures are not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, according to documents filed with the abandonment petition.
Although it will not carry rail traffic any more, the right-of-way will probably not fall into disuse.
Yuba City has its eye on sections of it for an expanded highway bridge over the Feather River, for bike trails west from Plumas Street and for a Poole Boulevard extension from Tharp Road through the Harter property.
“We’re excited we’ll be able to pick up some of the right-of-way,” John Wright, public works director, said.
The city will get the right of first refusal on the right-of-way. Preliminary talks have been held with the railroad, Wright said, but there is no purchase price yet.
Abandonment of the right-of-way will pave the way to Bridge Street repairs. Work has been on hold until after the railroad abandons the track.
Some of the rail line might eventually see development.
A 300-foot wide section in the vicinity of Bridge Street and Plumas Street, a former rail yard, is designated as residential on the city’s general plan.