1896

On October 5, 1896 Engine 50 of the new San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad pulled into Fresno.

1918

Twenty-two years later the then Fresno City Planning Commission, recognizing the problems already happening on the city dividing train corridor, recommended Rail Consolidation. Fresno has been waiting 84 years, since 1918, for this rail consolidation to become a reality. 

2001

F.A.R.R.C became a Public Benefit non-profit corporation and is operational five days a week promoting rail consolidation, dealing with all the appropriate local, state, and federal officials.

2002

Today the BNSF inner-city right of way continues to bisect Fresno in heavily populated residential areas, carrying 12 Amtrak passenger trains, 6 in each direction daily, and approximately 30 heavily loaded and very long freight trains over these tracks daily. The 42 daily trains traveling the BNSF inner-city corridor continue to be a hazard to vehicle and pedestrian traffic and a major source of property damage.

In March, F.A.R.R.C moved into offices located at 1713 Tulare Street, Fresno, 93721 which is the old Southern Pacific train station, an appropriate location for advocating Fresno rail consolidation.

FARRC battled hard for the renewal of Measure C, the Fresno county 1/2 % sales tax that was instituted in 1986.  the renewal of the major would have meant $150 Million in the kitty for Fresno rail consolidation.  By state law, all measures of this type require a 2/3rds majority.  Unfortunately, the Measure was only able to garner approximately 54% of the vote.  the existing Measure C is still in affect and will sunset at the end of 2006 so there will be additional opportunities to put the renewal back on the ballot and FARRC will fight hard for its passage.

2003

John F. Ferdinandi Jr, founder and President of FARRC lost his battle with cancer on January 26, 2003.   His work will go on