For more than a century, the Santa Maria Valley Railroad has helped local businesses ship products across the country.
The railroad company picks up produce, lumber, and other items from businesses within the city and transports the products across 14 miles of local tracks to the train station in Guadalupe. From there, the railcars are attached to Union Pacific Railroad locomotives, which carry the products across state lines.
This local rail service, which began in 1911, has played a vital role in the city’s development, said Santa Maria Valley Railroad President Rob Himoto.
“Before railroads, Santa Maria was basically a very small town, and the railroad is what really grew it,” Himoto said. “But fast-forward to today’s world, we’re still relevant.”
Himoto’s company, Coast Belle Rail Corporation, purchased the railroad in 2006. Since then, the railroad has increased the amount of freight it hauls every year. Despite railroads being around for more than 150 years, Himoto said they are still one of the cheapest and most efficient ways to ship large amounts of products.
When Himoto first took over the railroad, about 85 percent of the products shipped were agriculture related. Now that’s closer to 50 percent, as the railroad has increased the other commodities it ships. Himoto said diversification was one of his priorities when he first took over.
In addition to shipping items, Himoto said the railroad could eventually begin transporting people as well. As the Central Coast population continues to grow and traffic congestion continues to worsen, state and local officials may look to emphasize rail as a transportation option.
Last year, county officials from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Ventura officially formed the Coast Rail Coordinating Council. The goal of this group is to improve passenger rail service from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Although Himoto said there are no plans in the works yet, he anticipates the railroad will eventually add commuter services within the next 20 years or so. However, any sort of commuter plans would require new tracks and investment from not only the railroad, but state and local jurisdictions as well.
“In order to make it work would require subsidies,” Himoto said. “But in the future, it might be cheaper to subsidize commuter rail rather than keep maintaining congested roads and dealing with congestion.”
In the meantime, the railroad plans to reintroduce the occasional dinner excursion service sometime next year. This allows the railroad’s customers, as well as other city residents, the opportunity to eat dinner on the train as it travels over its 14 miles of local tracks.
Regardless of what the future holds for the railroad, whether it’s an emphasis on carrying passengers or products, it will remain an important, unique part of Santa Maria.
“There’s not very many communities in California that are served by a local railroad,” Himoto said. “There are only 25 short-line railroads left in California.”
Highlight:
• The city of Lompoc and Surf Connection are hosting the city’s annual skateboard competition on Aug. 17 for skaters 7 years and older. The event takes place at the city’s skate park on West College Avenue. Participants must check in at 10 a.m. and pay $5 to register for each event. Visit cityoflompoc.com for more information.
Staff Writer Zac Ezzone wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, mail, or email at spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 1-8, 2019.