"I applaud all parties involved for coming together to reach an agreement that will pave the way for a major transformation of the Sacramento Rail yard. Under this agreement, the development of an internationally-renowned museum on a truly historic piece of property is possible," said Governor Schwarzenegger.
"This is a very important first step that will begin the process of revitalizing the downtown rail yard area of Sacramento including the development of green space, retail stores, housing and increased transit between the Sacramento and Bay area. This important renaissance of an historic area that has sat vacant for decades will positively impact the quality of life and economy of Northern California."
Phase I - State Parks will receive the Boiler Shop and three associated parcels (the firing line, turntable and transfer table) upon approval by the Public Works Board. Approximately $13 million in proposition 40 and proposition 116 have been designated for this project. These funds will be used to rehabilitate the building and to ensure public access to the museum facility. The Boiler Shop will be used to create a proposed "working museum" museum where the public can watch and interact with craftsmen and artisans as they restore locomotives, rail cars and other historic equipment in the museum's extensive collection. The Boiler Shop is currently used as a restoration and maintenance facility for locomotives, rail cars and other historic equipment owned by State Parks.
Phase II - A third party museum consultant will be hired to assess how to transform the second building, the Erecting Shop, into a more formal museum attraction. As part of the agreement, State Parks and its nonprofit supporter the California State Railroad Museum Foundation will certify that they have the funding for 100 percent of the building rehabilitation and 25 percent of the funding necessary to complete the museum exhibits within the building. The State and Foundation will have three years to accomplish this task in order to gain fee title to the Erecting Shop. The agreement also calls for Thomas Enterprises to meet certain timing benchmarks for infrastructure development within the central shops or the three year horizon may be extended.
The parties will jointly fund the consultants to develop the museum plans and estimated costs.
"We can now begin moving forward on a 25-year dream to build a railroad technology museum that will explore cutting edge innovations in transportation while preserving and re-using some of the most significant industrial heritage facilities in the West ," said Ruth Coleman, director of California State Parks.
The agreement also resolves other land-ownership issues in the rail yard as it makes possible the adoption of the State Lands title settlement approved by the Commission Dec. 3. The State Lands title settlement offer includes four acres of State Parks-owned property just north of the "I" Street bridge along the rail yards waterfront, as well as the State Lands 25 acre public trust easement in the north part of the railyard. These actions smooth the way for the Sacramento City Council to take action on Thomas Enterprises entitlements at their next meeting set for Tuesday, Dec. 11.
"Since the Railroad Museum opened in 1981 it has been considered one of the finest, and is among the most-visited, railroad history museums in the world. The addition of science and technology to the museum will increase the stature of Sacramento as a major tourism destination and complete our plan for a museum complex unrivaled in North America," said Bob Slobe, Chairman, California State Railroad Museum Foundation.
