Once again, Supervisor Jim DeMartini, whose district includes the former military base, expressed skepticism about the idea but voted in favor of entering into a pre-development agreement with PCCP West Park.
That agreement sets the ground rules for the negotiations and spells out who is responsible for what.
Supervisors also approved a schedule requiring three more quarterly updates on the project negotiations — in August, December and April.
DeMartini has said he doesn't believe the project ever will come to fruition. He repeatedly has said developer Gerry Kamilos actually wants to build houses in and around Crows Landing and is using the short-haul rail idea as a diversion — a "Trojan horse."
But Tuesday morning, he said he respected the board majority and would support the pre-development agreement and continuing the talks with Kamilos.
The real test for the project, Demartini and others say, will come in early spring, when state bond funding becomes available.
Without state money, DeMartini has said, the rail-hub project likely won't survive.
Bee staff writer Michael G. Mooney can be reached at mmooney@modbee.com or 578-2384.
