RAILROAD in FILLMORE.......... Letters to the editor Ventura County Star......................maybe we should follow the money as to why the Commission is doing this????????? Dan Roatcap, Santa Paula Valley asset The Ventura County Transportation Commission is seeking to move Fillmore & Western Railway off the short line here in the valley. As a farmer and owner of the Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm, I grow pumpkins for wholesale and the railway buys the majority of thosepumpkins. It also brings passengers to my farm to purchase Christmas trees during the holiday season. Many of these customers have started a tradition of riding the train to my farm. However, that’s just the tip of this iceberg. Before the railway became part of my family’s business practice, this farm was barely sustainable. Thanks to Fillmore & Western, we have begun to see a profit from this land. Onethird of the gross receipts made by the tree farm comes from the railway bringing passengers to my farm. I like my farm lifestyle; it’s based on sustainability. Fortyfive years of small family farm tradition is on the line. If the railway goes away, chances are, so will the tree farm. Heritage Valley is about agricultural history and tourism. The valley is a destination for people wanting to visit and leave dol la rs . Fillmore & Western is part of this equation; my farm is part of this equation. If we go away, there will be a silence. The silence of wonderment and enjoyment by children and their parents, the silence of job losses and the loss of revenuethat we use to sustain our businesses. This is what all of us will witness. In closing, it is my hope that I will be able to continue my normal operational schedule with Fillmore & Western for many years to come. David Hugins, Ventura Railway dispute The Ventura County Transportation Commission continues its assault against the operation of Fillmore & Western Railway in Fillmore. None of the reasons given by the commission to shut down the rail line appear to have merit. After all, it was the commission that negotiated the contract in 2000 to last 21 years. Furthermore, the commission has ignored the loss of tourist dollars and economy to Santa Paula and Fillmore communities. As for the “commission’s perspective that maintenance has not been performed on the line at risk of public safety,” with inspections done regularly by the Public Utilities Commission, the line passes each inspection. The commission’s attorney has stated that the line is expected to perform more maintenance than the contract calls for. What? Clearly, it is time to replace all members of the Ventura County Transportation Commission. When was the last time any members of the commission actually rode this train?
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 16:33:48 +0000
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