Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit
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The SMART or Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit project is a future passenger rail service in Northern California, USA, to serve Sonoma and Marin counties, connecting to the city of San Francisco via the ferry service at Larkspur Landing. The project was approved with the passage of Measure Q on November 4, 2008. It was approved by 69.5 percent of voters. It received 73.5 percent approval in Sonoma and 62.6 percent in Marin.[1] It is projected to begin service in 2014.
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[edit] Project details
The project will require upgrading tracks on the historic Northwestern Pacific right-of-way from Larkspur in Marin County to Cloverdale in northern Sonoma County that roughly parallels US Highway 101.[2] The right-of-way is largely owned by the SMART District, which was established by state law in 2003. Projected ridership is about 1.4 million per year, mostly during commute hours, with a mid-day train and four trains per day on weekends. The passenger service will share tracks with freight trains of the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA)[3] that are expected to run on the SMART tracks once environmental clearance is complete.[4] The capital cost of track rehabilitation, signals, railcars, etc. is about $500M, the proposal includes spending an addition $91M on a bike/pedestrian path the full 70 miles which will enhance connections between stations and the developing network of bicycle-pedestrian pathways.[5] The project is funded through a quarter-cent sales tax in both counties (approved in 2008) together with federal, state, regional, and local allocations.
The project financial plan[6] is based on 36% fare recovery of operating costs, which is normal for commuter rail services. Sales tax support for transit is an established pattern in California, and if the service is well received it could be continued by voters.
Mitigation of environmental impacts was studied in 2005-06.[7] The recommended remedies which were certified without challenge included silencing of train horns by establishment of quiet zones and replacement of certain wetland ditches. The study showed that train service would result in a reduction in vehicle hours of delay and vehicle hours traveled on roads in the corridor. Although Highway 101 levels of service would continue to deteriorate, there would be temporal shifts of traffic that would benefit road users.[8] Most of the proposed stations are located near historic city centers. The Corridor Evaluation done by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in 2005 showed 17,000 households and over 40,000 jobs located within a half-mile of stations. Some 1400 parking spaces are included in the planned system. The walking distance from the planned Larkspur station to the SF Ferry is under four-tenths of a mile, roughly equal to walking distance from the Ferry terminal at San Francisco to the Embarcadaro BART Station.
[edit] Arguments used
The following two paragraphs outline issues argued by proponents and opponents concerning the funding proposal approved by the voters (Measure Q) on the November, 2008 Ballot in Marin and Sonoma counties:
[edit] In support
A coalition of conservation, cycling, business, and labor groups consider it urgent to restore a functioning railroad and create a bicycle-pedestrian pathway in the corridor to cope with congestion, keep businesses viable, protect the environment, and expand the existing network of pathways. Trains would by-pass traffic congestion, reduce automobile dependency, improve air quality, and reduce demand for imported oil. Trains of self-powered railcars will be just two or three units long, crossing intersections in about 45 seconds, and fitting easily within a city block. Crossing gates will be coordinated with traffic lights. Freight trains operating as far north as Windsor are likely to commence in 2010. Foreseeable freight service could be accommodated during daylight hours.[9] The bicycle-pedestrian pathway would connect with a growing network of trails, making stations easily accessible to bicycle commuters. Improved access would make the region more vibrant over the long term for employers, employees, and visitors.
[edit] In opposition
The operating costs far exceed fare revenue making perpetual sales tax ballot measures inevitable; noise from trains would severely impact those within hearing distance of the tracks, and the number of cars taken off 101 from 5000 train riders daily is trivial (less than 1/2%). Most stations are beyond walking distance to homes and job centers, and that many stations do not provide parking (e.g.: Larkspur and Santa Rosa, both key hubs); so trains would be unattractive for most people. There is no direct link to the SF Ferry at Larkspur, and transfers would be difficult and time consuming as compared to buses. SMART would aid freight service which will run mostly outside SMART commute hours meaning nights and weekends where noise is most noticeable. NCRA states they anticipate 3 round trips per day, with garbage hauling being one possibility, but this may be considerably more depending on the success of the freight business. There would be significant traffic disruption at grade crossings, particularly in city centers at peak times.
[edit] Measures Q & R (2008, 2006)
Measure Q was successful, receiving a combined vote of 69.5% in the two counties. A similar November 2006 funding proposal for SMART received a 65.3% "yes" vote but lacked the 67% required for passage.
[edit] Route
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The planned route takes SMART from Cloverdale in Sonoma County to Larkspur in Marin County. The proposed stations are:
- Cloverdale (Asti Rd. south of Citrus Drive)
- Healdsburg (Harmon Street)
- Windsor (Windsor Road and Windsor River Road)
- Santa Rosa (Jennings Avenue and Herbert Street)
- Santa Rosa (Historic depot at Railroad Square)
- Rohnert Park (Golf Course Drive at Roberts Lake Road)
- Cotati (East Cotati Avenue and Santero Way)
- Petaluma (Corona Road)
- Downtown Petaluma (Historic depot near Lakeville Highway)
- Novato north (Atherton Avenue and Redwood Boulevard)
- Novato south (U.S. Highway 101 junction with Ignacio Boulevard)
- Marin County Civic Center
- Downtown San Rafael (Tamalpais Street, near Transit Center)
- Larkspur, where riders can transfer via shuttle .4 mile to the Larkspur-San Francisco ferry
[edit] References
- ^ "SMART rail gets go-ahead, but service years off". http://www.marinij.com/ci_10908522?source=most_emailed. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
- ^ "What is SMART". http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/index.php/what_is_smart/. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
- ^ "North Coast Railroad Authority Homepage". http://www.northcoastrailroad.org/index.html. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ "SMART White Paper #14: Freight Trains and Passenger Trains, July, 2008". http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/userfiles/file/14_whitepaper_freight.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- ^ "SMART White Paper #8: SMART is both Rail and Trail, February, 2008". http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/userfiles/file/8_whitepaper_railandtrail.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- ^ "SMART Project Funding Plan, July, 2008". http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/userfiles/file/18b_whitepaper_ap1fundingplan.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ "Final Environmental Impact Report: Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit, June, 2006". http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/index.php/docs/eir/#FEIR. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ SMART FEIR Master Response E.1 p. 3.2 erata sheet #5
- ^ "Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report: Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit, July, 2008". http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/index.php/docs/eir/#FSEIR. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
[edit] External links
- SMART official site
- Friends of SMART (Supporters' site)
- Stop SMART (Opponents' site)
