SACRAMENTO - State Senator Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Member Dave Jones announced that Thomas Enterprises, the developer of the downtown Railyards, has agreed to turn over two historic shop buildings on the property to California State Parks for the construction of a world-class Railroad Technology Museum. Steinberg and Jones’ districts encompass the downtown Railyards in Sacramento.

“I commend California State Parks, the Railroad Museum Foundation and Thomas Enterprises for coming together to work out a solution that benefits everyone,” Steinberg said. “Their hard work opens the door for a world class experience that will anchor the vibrant Central Shops district that the City envisions for the railyards.”

“With this agreement, we have resolved a major impediment that threatened to sideline the Railyards Development in a way that will allow State Parks to develop and dynamic Railroad Technology museum in keeping with the overall vision for the historic railyards,” said Jones.

Following weeks of intense negotiations mediated by Steinberg and Jones, Thomas Enterprises will turn over the Erector Shop, the Boiler Building, the Roundhouse area and a portion of the open space west of the Central Shops to State Parks to facilitate construction of the Railroad Technology Museum, subject to terms that include resolution title issues involving the Docks property.  Additionally, State Parks and Thomas Enterprises will jointly fund a study to determine the optimal size and exhibit area for the museum.

The Railyards is a 244-acre urban infill project in downtown Sacramento. The site was the western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad and largest railroad fabrication and maintenance facility west of the Mississippi.

The Sacramento City Council will discuss the Railyards Project on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at City Hall, 915 I Street.