NORTH BAY -- The North Coast Railroad Authority this morning pushed back by several days a decision that could allow freight rail service to return to Sonoma County.
The authority postponed to June 20 decisions on agreements with Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) and the city of Novato as well as the certification of the final environmental report. The original date was June 16.
The authority wanted extra time to assess the situation after receiving materials from three groups -- Friends of the Eel River, Californians Against Toxins and the Environmental Protection Information Center -- suggesting they would take legal action if freight trains run again, according to Mitch Stogner, executive director of the rail authority.
