Goal: Lay the groundwork for a sustainable, community-backed heritage rail project by focusing on public engagement, legal groundwork, feasibility studies, and strategic team building.

🚨Note: Objectives are not listed in priority order and may evolve based on public input. This is a non-exhaustive outline🚨

TRANSPARENCY KEY:

- = Pending work

✅= Done

🟡= In works/active

🛑=Troubleshooting obstacle

OBJECTIVES

1. Community Engagement & Public Input

✅Launch and promote a 6-month public interest poll (July 15th, 2025) ➡️ https://www.allcounted.com/s?did=3oamx968ud5oa&lang=en_US

-Host 3–5 local listening sessions or town halls (Paradise, Magalia, Stirling City)

🟡Collect stories, feedback, concerns, and volunteer interest

✅Launch a recruitment/volunteer sign-up portal

2. Legal, Permitting & Land Assessment

-Identify key land parcels and right-of-way status

-Begin conversations with willing property owners

-Compile a list of required permits and review CEQA implications

-Secure a legal advisor or planning consultant (volunteer or pro bono if possible)

3. Feasibility & Technical Research

-Conduct historical and structural assessments of existing corridor

-Evaluate current trail conditions, crossings, and bridgework

-Draft a technical pre-feasibility report with recommendations

-Identify environmental impact concerns and opportunities for mitigation

4. Team Building & Board Formation

🟡Recruit core advisors with expertise in: Law, planning, grant writing, nonprofit management,

-rail operations

-Create roles for working groups (e.g., History, Engineering, Grants, PR)

-Plan and host a community meet-and-greet or workshop

-Begin the process of establishing a formal board of directors

5. Branding, Communication & Outreach

🟡-Finalize core messaging and visual identity

-Grow social media and newsletter subscriber base

🟡-Secure 2–3 local media interviews or feature articles

🟡-Continue outreach to city, county, and regional leadership

6. Fundraising & Budgeting

-Raise $100,000 target for Phase 1 via:

-Online fundraising

-Private donations

-Mini-grants (Cal Nonprofit Kickstart, PG&E; Community, local heritage funds)

-Set up transparent expense tracking and public reporting

-Prepare grant templates and timelines for Phase 2

DELIVERABLES

-Published Phase 1 Summary Report

-Initial route analysis and permit matrix

-Signed letters of support from community leaders

🟡-Volunteer roster with confirmed skill sets

-Draft organizational structure and board candidates

-Fundraising dashboard and first $100K raised or pledged