Cheryl S. Willis

"At about 2010 the estimate of fund would begin," said Cheryl Willis, deputy director of Caltrans District 1.

"This project will strengthen the roadway and extend its service life by many years with new surface pavement and improved drainage," said Cheryl Willis, acting district director for Caltrans.

Cheryl Willis of Caltrans entered the meeting at 9:22 am

In an October 23 letter from Cheryl Willis, Deputy District Director, Planning the NCRA was advised that it must resolve outstanding audit issues and address CTC conditions prior to the release of ISTEA funds as well.

Michelle Fell of Caltrans District 1 inquired on behalf of her supervisor, Cheryl Willis, about a TCRP Delivery and Project Benefits Survey that was submitted by the NCRA to Department of Transportation Headquarters.

Cheryl Willis, deputy director of planning for the California Department of Transportation in Eureka, whose agency works closely with the Federal Highway Administration, said phase 2 is "demonstration portion" of the project once the rail line is open and moving freight.

Willis, who helped arrange the meeting in Sacramento, said part of the delay in reopening the line, which has been closed since 1998, has been due to the myriad of state and federal agencies involved.

"There are numerous state and federal agencies and different funds involved.They all have different roles and responsibilities," she said."When we get to implemention, it takes a lot of coordination."

Regarding environmental review, FEMA is the lead agency for phase 1.

"For the state environmental processes, NCRA [North Coast Railroad Authority] is the lead agency," Willis said.

Humboldt County Community Development Services Director Kirk Girard; Dr. Terry Raymer with United Indian Health Services; Arcata Community Development Director Tom Conlon; Gary Bird, special projects manager with the city of Eureka; and Cheryl Willis, deputy director for transportation planning for Caltrans District 1, held a local panel discussion on the issue.
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Willis said small communities have particular challenges.

"Quite a few of them have main streets that are the state highway system," Willis said.

Jackson's talk was sponsored by the Healthy Humboldt Coalition, the Humboldt Partnership for Active Living and the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, with some funding from the California Endowment.

Humboldt County Community Development Services Director Kirk Girard; Dr. Terry Raymer with United Indian Health Services; Arcata Community Development Director Tom Conlon; Gary Bird, special projects manager with the city of Eureka; and Cheryl Willis, deputy director for transportation planning for Caltrans District 1, will speak on their agencies' roles.

Caltrans' Cheryl S. Willis said they are being timed in a "logical sequence" so their completion will dovetail with a project at "The Narrows" area of Hwy. 199 that should be completed by 2009.

Willis is Deputy District Director for Planning and Local Assistance, working out of Caltrans' Eureka office.

"We understand and acknowledge that 199 is an important route to the community," she said.