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For Immediate Release
March 16, 2011
Contact: City of Ventura Attorney Rebeca Mendoza, (805) 654-7818
Patrick Chandler, District 7 Public and Media Affairs, Caltrans (213) 897-3630
Lupe Valdez, Director of Public Affairs Union Pacific Railroad (626) 935-7617
Aaron Hunt, Director of Corporate Relations and Media Union Pacific Railroad
(916) 789-6019            

City of Ventura, Caltrans and Union Pacific Railroad Reach Cooperative Solution to Improve Railroad Trestle Over Highway 101

The City of Ventura, Union Pacific Railroad, and Caltrans have reached a cooperative solution to the graffiti on the railroad trestle over Highway 101 in downtown Ventura.  

Union Pacific will pay for Caltrans personnel to give the trestle a new coat of paint that will cover existing graffiti and create a uniform appearance.  The City will contribute the paint for this project.  To help discourage future trespassing and vandalism, the parties will make several improvements, such as fences and other barriers, to deter access and make it easier for police officers to provide enforcement.  The parties are hopeful that these measures will minimize future vandalism.  Should graffiti reappear, City crews and volunteers will remove it.

As part of the deal, Union Pacific will increase the annual franchise fee it pays the city by 50 percent.  The parties plan to begin work on the project after executing a final written agreement in the coming weeks.

This release is available at the City of Ventura's website at www.cityofventura.net. ###