Measure R: SMART - Rail Transit Sales tax

[Barry]

Measure R asks whether the sales tax in Sonoma & Marin counties should be raised by 1/4 cent to construct, operate and maintain a passenger train system from Cloverdale to Larkspur.

As much as I support mass-transit, I have my doubts about this. While mass-transit is a worthy green mantra, that doesn't make all mass-transit systems a good idea without having to think it through thoroughly to see if a particular system really makes sense.

My fundamental concern about this is whether the system would be heavily used. Would you use it - including getting yourself to and from the stations? If its not widely used, it will be a very expensive public project to build, maintain and operate for negligible environmental benefits.

Would the money be better spent by enhancing and subsidizing the bus system which could use the current & future HOV lanes on the freeway? Would a better bus system, or as the article below suggests, a light rail system, attract as many or more riders at a lower financial and environmental cost per ride?

My mind isn't made up on this, yet. I just want to point out that just because this is a train and "everybody loves a train", this doesn't seem like a slam-dunk.

What do you think?

Barry


The below column appeared in the

https://www.sonomawest.com/art/sonoma-masthead.jpg (https://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2006/10/13/sonomawest/letters_and_opinions/op2.txt)

COMMENTARY: No on Meaure R (https://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2006/10/13/sonomawest/letters_and_opinions/op2.txt)
by Gerry Forth

<table class="thumb" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><!-- AdSys ad not found for sonomawest/letters_and_opinions:instory -->
</td></tr></tbody></table> Everybody loves a train! Most of us have an immediate positive reaction to the idea of moving drivers off of our roads and onto efficient mass transit. But, will that be the case?

<table class="thumb" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><!-- AdSys ad not found for sonomawest/letters_and_opinions:instory -->
</td></tr></tbody></table> In a few weeks, the return of trains to Sonoma County will be put to the voters. But, my research reveals that the general public is wrapped in a fog of unawareness and knows little about this proposal. Both sides have had an opportunity to make their case, but the whole truth has not yet been told. This in mind, I had to see for myself how the new rail service might change your lives, and mine.

<table class="thumb" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><!-- AdSys ad not found for sonomawest/letters_and_opinions:instory -->
</td></tr></tbody></table> On a sunny afternoon in September, I started down the rail line, from Healdsburg to Santa Rosa, to see the sights, and to hear from folks along the way. Their answers, and the facts, may surprise you.

<table class="thumb" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><!-- AdSys ad not found for sonomawest/letters_and_opinions:instory -->
</td></tr></tbody></table> The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transportation District (SMART) was formed to start commuter rail service through Sonoma and Marin. The new train will run from Cloverdale to San Rafael during peak commuting hours. There is also a companion proposal by another agency to reactivate freight service on the same rails. The SMART environmental report predicts about 2,500 daily round-trip riders by the year 2025. Economist Mike Arnold of Novato figures that this will result in an average cost of $20 each, by far the highest of any transit system in the Bay Area. The resulting annual subsidy per rider will be about $4,000. Maybe it will be worth it if I can snag one of those empty freeway slots, but even SMART concedes that we won't notice any difference. It seems that there are already cars waiting to fill any freeway space that the train might open up.

<table class="thumb" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><!-- AdSys ad not found for sonomawest/letters_and_opinions:instory -->
</td></tr></tbody></table> To its credit, SMART has also proposed a 70-mile bikeway and walking path. It will offer bikers a fast, safe commute through some beautiful country. It is likely to encourage more people to ride to work. Beyond that, the rail plan has deep flaws. We have an opportunity to build the right transportation solution and this is not it. Sonoma is ripe for a light rail solution. About 75 percent of all trips will start and end within the county. The heavy rail approach favored by SMART is the most expensive way to handle this traffic. Why then? The reason seems clear; there is a special interest group in the wings that wants to pack freight trains onto the tracks once the taxpayers have paid for them.

<table class="thumb" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><!-- AdSys ad not found for sonomawest/letters_and_opinions:instory -->
</td></tr></tbody></table> My journey starts north of Simi Winery. It is clear that this right-of-way is a public treasure. It can become a cornerstone of a multi-use transportation corridor if done right. Everywhere through Healdsburg, Windsor and Santa Rosa there is evidence of heavy foot traffic already. It is a natural pathway for people to move directly and quietly from point to point. People everywhere are willing to talk about the train, so I stopped and interviewed folks in Windsor's Shiloh Greens and Town Center. It is clear that asking people about trains is a little like asking kids if they like ice cream. Everyone smiles and says “yes”. Few have any idea what the train proposal really is. Fewer still know that Measure R on the November ballot is a sales tax increase to pay for the train. No one is aware that freight trains are also in their future. I expected more awareness after the SMART opinion poll showed 72 percent support.

Here are my thoughts: first, uncouple the freight proposal from the commuter train. Taxpayers should not subsidize commercial interests in the timber and gravel industries. Supporters of the environment should not have to live with the compromises that heavy rail necessitates. Next, send SMART back to the drawing board with instructions to come up with a less-costly light rail solution that can be phased in as ridership increases. Finally, and somewhat sadly, we should say NO to Measure R.

- Gerry Forth lives in Healdsburg

[Sabrina]

I for one would definately use it, and be more likely to go to down town San Rafael for events, or even SF with transfering to the Fairy. There are so many intereting events, say even in Petaluma that I just don't want to drive a car to because traffic has gotten so bad. Also, as I do a lot of driving that way for other things / reasons (dropping off cars places, and not having a ride back) that it would give me a chance to read the paper, since I'm not driving. And, I think it's a definate start in the right direction. Rail has got to be the wave of the future. Even if right in the beginning there are shared uses for freight...that's another subject. If you've ever been to Europe, they are sooo far ahead. If the train finally gets started we can only move into a better position later. I only wish that link with Bart would happen (which I'm sure it has to) between Marin and the Eastbay and SF. Also, for the same reasons it would bring more people from Marin to our neck of the woods for touristy reasons...conscious community, wine country, etc etc.


... Would you use it - including getting yourself to and from the stations? ...

What do you think?

[Merrilyn]

Would you really ride it to go to these events? The ballot measure is for a COMMUTER train. That's a train that runs on weekdays at commuter travel hours and makes only 8 stops (2 in Santa Rosa). I think this is the point the commentator was trying to make. We all seem to want a train. This particular plan is not our dream train but we'll vote for it anyway because we imagine hoppin' on to go to a weekend or evening event or just a fun outing. But will it be running when you want to go?

What about the $4,000 subsidy/rider/year? Is that a good use of our money? We have several transportation gurus in our county who are capable of designing something romantic, green and quiet, convenient and more reasonably priced, don't you think? Hey I want to vote for rail too, but is this particular proposal really very smart?

[tomcat]

I just love the idea of finally getting a train going on the existing tracks before they disappear. I would gladly support it with an increase in my sales tax and so I will vote for the project.
Many folks would probably not use it very much at first, but I think that ridership would increase as time goes on and someday in the future we will wonder how we ever got along without it.
It's not 'THE' answer to our transportation problems, but one that I feel we'd better start while it's still possible. Once it's going, maybe they really will install that paved bike trail on the right of way next to the tracks too. That would be GREAT! I would use that ALOT.
Tom

[krgruns]

As a commuter to SF on a daily basis, i can assuredly tell you that i would not use this system. it would take me at least 2.5 hours to get to the city and require a transfer to the ferry. not only would it be a waste of my valuable time (which is already wasted 3-5 hours a day commuting), it would be more costly than the existing system.

The best thing that could be done is for Golden Gate transit to introduce more express buses to and from the City and other points of interest that run all day. Currently, the last express bus to the City leaves Rohnert Park by 7 and the first express bus out of the city leaves around 2:15.

[spaceforart]

I just love the idea of finally getting a train going on the existing tracks before they disappear. I would gladly support it with an increase in my sales tax and so I will vote for the project.
Many folks would probably not use it very much at first, but I think that ridership would increase as time goes on and someday in the future we will wonder how we ever got along without it.
It's not 'THE' answer to our transportation problems, but one that I feel we'd better start while it's still possible. Once it's going, maybe they really will install that paved bike trail on the right of way next to the tracks too. That would be GREAT! I would use that ALOT.
Tom

I would absolutely use it and often (the rail), as well as the path. I watched the SMART forum put on by the league of Women Voters and the opponents keep skewing the numbers regarding how much money was spent and will be spent. Most of the funding that has been spent so far was from Federal Transportation. The Smart advocate said the main thing that was paid for, so far, was the EIR.
p.s.Why say it won't be used, when 60-70% of Sonoma residents say they will use it? Look at BART.
We can't pave our way out of commuter clogs and congestion, let's get on with alternatives. For accurate info. go to www.sonomamarintrain.org
Thanks- Andrea

[Hummingbear]

The question should not be, would you ride the train tomorrow, or next year. Railroad planning should be anticipating the next 50 or 100 years of use.
Some of the criticisms of the current plan are valid, but they miss the big picture. Over time, we can fix the defects, improve the grade crossings, extend the southern terminus, develop feeder bus systems to make the commute convenient for thousands more riders. But we have to start somewhere, and we have to start now. Remember, these tracks have been here for over a century; but if we continue to vote against putting them to use, the pressure to parcel out the right-of-way for development will become irresistible. We've already lost access to Larkspur Landing; it will only get worse, and soon.
In time, the freeways will be too clogged to move people. In time, fuel will be too rare for private cars. In time, people will be sick of the wasteful land-use patterns of suburbs that require driving everywhere for the simplest social needs. Then we (and our children) will be glad we planned ahead. Rail-oriented development means more centralized infrastructure, well-planned public transit (rather than the begrudging service we have now for marginalized communities), and a society with more community awareness.
--Hummingbear

[Sonomamark]

Merrilyn, this issue has been studied for over fifteen years--good studies, THOROUGH studies. I know, because when I was executive director of Sonoma County Conservation Action (from its founding in late 1990 through the end of 2000), we worked on transportation issues continuously the entire time. The studies show there will be enough ridership. The money spent will move a lot more people for a lot less money than freeway lanes, which is the ONLY other thing this county's government is going to spend major transportation capital on, and if you don't think so, you haven't been following the issue closely. Your choices are freeway lanes alone, or the SMART plan. Please, everyone, enough with the what-ifs. They've all been explored and studied as alternatives. THIS vote, this year, will decide whether mass transit happens in the North Bay, or whether it will be deep-sixed.

Understand: there isn't going to be a monorail. They aren't economically feasible, which is why there are hardly any in the world. There aren't going to be two tracks anytime soon--it would be prohibitively expensive, and we're lucky that our public officials had the foresight to secure funding to buy the existing set of tracks when the NWP railroad went bankrupt. Maybe one day electrical lines can be run to make the system electrical, instead of the currently planned diesel-electric. But right now, none of those things are possible, or on the table.

SMART will begin as a commuter train, because that's the immediate need. All the studies show that it will have sufficient ridership to support itself with the quarter-cent tax. Will there be excursion and weekend service in the future? Of course there will, as more and more people get used to using it and demand can be shown. But for now, this isn't about a recreational amenity: it's about whether or not we are going to decide to be smarter as a community than just pouring endless transportation dollars into more and more freeway lanes, at tens of millions of dollars per lane per mile and all the negative impacts of the automobile. Or, conversely, whether we choose to give people who commute the 101 corridor a viable alternative.

This is the best design available, by people who know what they're doing. Believe me, getting this thing positioned to actually be approved by the voters took nearly 20 years of fighting many powerful interests in this county who thought that only widening freeways could serve their needs. Many of them still think that. But the public, through the work of groups like SCCA and the Sonoma County Transportation Coalition and Greenbelt Alliance, has demanded that their vision of rail for the North Bay be given a real shot, and now--after, of course, the movers and shakers got their highway tax--it's happening. This IS the "romantic, green" alternative. It's the only possible one. There will never be enough money to lay more tracks, to buy an alternative route, or other pie-in-the-sky dreams.

The primary opponents to SMART fall into three groups: knee-jerk conservative anti-tax groups, business interests who support only freeway widening as exemplified by Mike Arnold's opposition group, and elitist self-styled environmentalists such as the Marin Conservation League, which has been consistently hostile to rail over many years, even though polls show most people in Marin support it. Some of the same Marin opponents, who now claim to support "busses" as their transportation mode of choice (which, of course, involves more freeway lanes, or paving over the rail line), actually opposed allowing a bus line to operate across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, leading to widespread perception--which I share-- that their real concern was about allowing "the wrong kinds of people" into Marin. In my opinion, their position boils down to keeping Marin precious and pretty by letting the rest of the North Bay eat gridlock, smog, lung diseases and skyrocketing atmospheric carbon emissions.

Here in Sonoma County, we have all the pieces in place for rail to work without negative side effects. We have voter-approved Urban Growth Boundaries that prevent the kind of sprawl that BART caused in the East Bay. We have an engaged, visionary and informed electorate that supports mixed-use, higher-density "smart growth" centered in our cities. We tax ourselves to protect open space and agricultural land--and I encourage all of you to vote for Measure F, so we keep doing so.

SMART is the smart thing to do. Don't be fooled by hollow arguments, fear-mongering and "just say no to everything" "environmentalism". Being an environmentalist is about doing things BETTER, not just opposing everything. SMART gives us a chance to start laying the infrastructure so our region can still function when oil reaches $100 a barrel--which, as we all know, is coming, sooner or later.

Please: be smart, and be green. Vote YES on Measure R.




Mark Green
Sonoma County Conservation Council Environmentalist of the Year, 1997

[Sonomamark]

The thing that many people don't know is that the commute problem that most needs to be solved is not yours (unfortunately for you). Only 3% of Sonoma County residents who use Hwy 101 to go to work are going to the City. Most of them stay inside Sonoma County, and about 12% go to Marin. The need to be addressed is getting people from mostly-bedroom communities like Windsor and Rohnert Park to Santa Rosa and Petaluma, and getting longer commuters from RP and Petaluma (mostly) to Novato and San Rafael.

It's true--this system will not conveniently get you to SF. Unfortunately, there's a large body of water between us and there. But that's not a need of very many people, proportionately speaking. The many cars this system will take off the road are people who are traveling within Sonoma County or between Sonoma County and Marin.

Into the future, it is likely that commuting to SF will continue to drop. Fuel prices are going to keep climbing, and options like telecommuting will become more necessary and available. This system is designed to meet the needs of the many, but no system can meet the needs of all.

Do you commute on Golden Gate Transit? I did that for two years while at San Francisco State. I found that, though time consuming, at least my time was my own--I could read, listen to music, nap, etc. Far, far better than driving.


As a commuter to SF on a daily basis, i can assuredly tell you that i would not use this system. it would take me at least 2.5 hours to get to the city and require a transfer to the ferry. not only would it be a waste of my valuable time (which is already wasted 3-5 hours a day commuting), it would be more costly than the existing system.

[rnichols]

If you would like a Measure R (rail and trail) yard sign for the Sebastopol area, please email me with your address.

[quaaquaaa]

I vote no on anything that raises taxes. there should be an above ground commuter only train installed long ago with the pilfered monies politicians already accumulated. clearlake was given a million to fix the roads and it was never used for that. now they want more money . yes i said the L word, Lake county. the train will probly be used to haul nuclear waste anyways and be unaffordable to the commonpeople. people are driving everywhere with one person in each car capsule all on the telephone. what kind of world is this anyways. QUAAQUAAA bring hitch hiking back and travel with your neighbors, if you can catch their attention and get them to roll down their window. give me a break. I say we go with rickshaws.

[dubwise]

QUAAQUAAA bring hitch hiking back and travel with your neighbors, if you can catch their attention and get them to roll down their window. give me a break. I say we go with rickshaws.

Great idea QUAAQUAAA! Why don't you start the QUAAQUAAA Rickshaw company? You can hire all those "Will work for food" Exit dwellers.

[Juggledude]

It seems a no brainer to me that the environmental impact of a mass commuter system will be better than that of cars. While, as with many plans and measures, this particular one may lack some refinement of details, it certainly seems to be a postive step forward in a direction we desperately need to go. The nominal sales tax increase will affect only lightly those who's consumerism is held in check.

QuaaaQuaaa, I feel strongly that the type of negative thinking expressed by your post would result in all of us sitting around complaining about the status quo without making any effort to improve it, while we slowly choke on the exhaust of the oil giants. While rickshaws are picturesque, our current societal model, not to mention sprawling city planning and lack of local infrastructure does not make them a viable alternative.

I do like the hitch hiking approach though. I think a great step in that direction will be to overcome the insular and solitary aspects of today's society, somthing that can be accomplished by building community... (read, GO WACCO!)

How about to put a real dent in the pollution and economic stranglehold of big oil, we start a "carpool" thread here on Wacco? I'm not much help as I telecommute, but I offer it up as a viable option.

Royce

[ConnieMadden]

I helped deliver around 20 lawn signs because rail makes so much sense. We're heading into a time when gas will rise above $4 - it will! And our air is already dirty, causing huge number of new cases of asthma. SMART rail goes the right direction - and brings us new bike trails as well. I'm completely sold on this.

[star]

hey there everyone! interesting to here opinions on the train. the first reply i read about the train not being used for passengers & supporting industry is definitely a realistic worry- but one that i think could be solved by us passing measure R and then USING THE TRAIN on a regular basis. the train is INTENDED
for passengers, & is supposed to cost less per mile then a car (over all, include road maintenance & stuff). i would urge people to check out the www.GoSmartTrain.com (https://www.gosmarttrain.com/) website to get more info. again going back to the first response i read about riding with your neighbors & hitchhiking- great ideas! And those things require us Americans to change our way of life, just like the train would take some getting used to, but we can alter our schedules to slow down and get to know our neighbors while we ride the train to & fro... Also, someone else mentioned starting a carpool thread here on wacco- that's brilliant!!! i go to the bay area every so often to visit my parents & friends, as well as to events locally that i end up driving alone to. anyways, peace and love!
-star


I helped deliver around 20 lawn signs because rail makes so much sense. We're heading into a time when gas will rise above $4 - it will! And our air is already dirty, causing huge number of new cases of asthma. SMART rail goes the right direction - and brings us new bike trails as well. I'm completely sold on this.

[Sonomamark]

Well, this is pretty silly.

Frankly, if you vote against anything that raises taxes, perhaps you should consider visiting somewhere that shows the results of having no government--say, Somalia. Might give you a different perspective--after all, the highest quality of life in the world is enjoyed in nations with the highest tax rates, like Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, etc. But I digress.

Quite the contrary to "politicians having pilfered monies", the only reason we have an opportunity for rail transit here is that politicians went to bat to save the rail right-of-way when it was about to be sold off in the Northwest Pacific Railroad bankruptcy. If that had happened, it would have ended forever any opportunity for real mass transit in the North Bay.

As to "negative environmental effects of rail", there aren't any unless land use policies are not in place to prevent rail driving sprawl (as BART did in the East Bay). Here, our UGBs and city-centered growth policies prevent this from happening, and most people who will use the train already live in Sonoma County, anyway (relatively few commute out of county).

Contrast this benefit with the soul-deadening, carbon-pumping, death-causing, money-draining, wildlife-slaughtering, road-rage-inducing nature of added freeway lanes, and rail's a pretty clear choice, and one that's an order of magnitude cheaper than car-based transportation. If you care about the environment or want government to spend less money--support Measure R.



I vote no on anything that raises taxes. there should be an above ground commuter only train installed long ago with the pilfered monies politicians already accumulated. clearlake was given a million to fix the roads and it was never used for that. now they want more money . yes i said the L word, Lake county. the train will probly be used to haul nuclear waste anyways and be unaffordable to the commonpeople. people are driving everywhere with one person in each car capsule all on the telephone. what kind of world is this anyways. QUAAQUAAA bring hitch hiking back and travel with your neighbors, if you can catch their attention and get them to roll down their window. give me a break. I say we go with rickshaws.

[quaaquaaa]

why do i have to put up with mark green calling me ignorant and I cant fight back/ I didnt disrespect him, only disagree. doesnt seem democratic.:yinyang:

[krgruns]

i still stand by my original opinion that this is not a commute option. it may work for those who want to meander down to marin on the weekend but that is not even being offered at this time. as a commuter train, it fails. it is just too slow. also, there is only one track so multiple trains traveling in different directions at the same time is not an option. i take umbrage at sonomamarks fear-inciting rhetoric regarding the consequences of not supporting the rail measure. face it, it just isn't the most intelligent design. i agree, we have a wonderful strip of land with tracks to utilize. there just has to be a better way of shuttling people quickly. for those of you who proclaim you would use this system, i challenge you by saying, if this were so, you would be using golden gate transit. it offers a bus that runs 24/7 that takes forever (just like the proposed train) but hits the same destinations and more. it is even more accessible and probably, less expensive. and the seats are very comfortable. how many of you even know this?


hey there everyone! interesting to here opinions on the train. the first reply i read about the train not being used for passengers & supporting industry is definitely a realistic worry- but one that i think could be solved by us passing measure R and then USING THE TRAIN on a regular basis. the train is INTENDED
for passengers, & is supposed to cost less per mile then a car (over all, include road maintenance & stuff). i would urge people to check out the www.GoSmartTrain.com (https://www.gosmarttrain.com/) website to get more info. again going back to the first response i read about riding with your neighbors & hitchhiking- great ideas! And those things require us Americans to change our way of life, just like the train would take some getting used to, but we can alter our schedules to slow down and get to know our neighbors while we ride the train to & fro... Also, someone else mentioned starting a carpool thread here on wacco- that's brilliant!!! i go to the bay area every so often to visit my parents & friends, as well as to events locally that i end up driving alone to. anyways, peace and love!
-star

[jeeves]

quaaquaaa: if you "...vote no on anything that raises taxes" i need to agree with mark green that you are ignorant as you are making uninformed decisions - that is pretty much the definition of ignorant for me.

if you categorically vote no an anything that raises taxes, would you like your firefighters and police officers still receive salaries at the 1967 levels? if yes, how long do you think you'd HAVE a fireman or police officer when YOU need one?

we are very fortunate in california - and if you don't like it, you may leave it, as they say. my father in central europe pays 19 (NINETEEN) percent sales tax and 4 times what we pay for gasoline, most of that is taxes. when i owned a home in pittsburgh, pa, in 1988, which i purchased for $118000, i paid $3000 (THREE THOUSAND) property tax - approx. 2.63%. i sold a flat in sf this year - my property tax had been 1.14%!

i know ignorance apparently is bliss, but before you vote no - do us all a favor and don't vote at all, we'll all be better off.

jeeves


why do i have to put up with mark green calling me ignorant and I cant fight back/ I didnt disrespect him, only disagree. doesnt seem democratic.:yinyang:

[Sonomamark]

I'm sorry you "take umbrage", but you also don't give any reason why the contents of my post are in any way inaccurate. I'm not fear-mongering--I'm informed. If you have something other than unsubstantiated opinion to support what you write below, I'm happy to talk about it, but don't insult my post as "fearmongering" just because you can't say anything substantive about it.

I'll say this again: most commuters aren't going to SF. They're traveling within Sonoma County, or, at most, going to Novato or San Rafael. The SMART train will absolutely be a commute option for these commuters.

Read the study! The opinions you're expressing are not supported by the available facts.


MG



i still stand by my original opinion that this is not a commute option. it may work for those who want to meander down to marin on the weekend but that is not even being offered at this time. as a commuter train, it fails. it is just too slow. also, there is only one track so multiple trains traveling in different directions at the same time is not an option. i take umbrage at sonomamarks fear-inciting rhetoric regarding the consequences of not supporting the rail measure. face it, it just isn't the most intelligent design. i agree, we have a wonderful strip of land with tracks to utilize. there just has to be a better way of shuttling people quickly. for those of you who proclaim you would use this system, i challenge you by saying, if this were so, you would be using golden gate transit. it offers a bus that runs 24/7 that takes forever (just like the proposed train) but hits the same destinations and more. it is even more accessible and probably, less expensive. and the seats are very comfortable. how many of you even know this?

[Sonomamark]

Oh, for gods' sake.

First, a civics lesson. Yes, actually, democracy means having to put up with people with different opinions than you. That's why it's democracy and not, say, totalitarianism.

But this isn't about a clash of opinions. It was you, whoever you are, who apparently couldn't hold up her/his end of an argument, so started throwing around insults. You sent me a nakedly insulting private email, which said (and I quote) "how about if you and your republican running mates go to sweden to live." And you got your hand slapped for it in private mail.

Now you want to play victim in public. This is an inappropriate use of a public forum. Want to talk more? Mail me privately, and be civil this time. And prepare to talk about substantive issues, rather than this idiot mudslinging you've started.


why do i have to put up with mark green calling me ignorant and I cant fight back/ I didnt disrespect him, only disagree. doesnt seem democratic.:yinyang:

[Sonomamark]

Just to clarify: this message is in response to the "quaaquaa" person.
Apparently, Jeeves received these replies and was concerned they were directed at her/him.






Oh, for gods' sake.

First, a civics lesson. Yes, actually, democracy means having to put up with people with different opinions than you. That's why it's democracy and not, say, totalitarianism.

But this isn't about a clash of opinions. It was you, whoever you are, who apparently couldn't hold up her/his end of an argument, so started throwing around insults. You sent me a nakedly insulting private email, which said (and I quote) "how about if you and your republican running mates go to sweden to live." And you got your hand slapped for it in private mail.

Now you want to play victim in public. This is an inappropriate use of a public forum. Want to talk more? Mail me privately, and be civil this time. And prepare to talk about substantive issues, rather than this idiot mudslinging you've started.

[Barry]

Just to clarify: this message is in response to the "quaaquaa" person.
Apparently, Jeeves received these replies and was concerned they were directed at her/him.Once you start or reply to a thread, you are subscribed for individual email updates for any future replies to that thread. For more about this and how to change it, see this thread (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3597).

[Barry]

Cutting through the clutter on SMART debate

Facts behind the rhetoric on Measure R's quarter-cent sales tax for commuter rail line

By KERRY BENEFIELD ([email protected])
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Decades of debate have come down to this: Does passenger rail have a place in the 21st century North Bay?

The debate has ebbed and flowed as various proposals to reintroduce train service in Sonoma and Marin counties have been launched.

The latest - Measure R - is a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for rail service through the two counties and is arguably the most detailed plan to date.

True to historic form, the debate has been wide-ranging and intense.

And only the most basic elements are undisputed.

Both sides agree trains would run on

70 miles of track, traveling south from Cloverdale into Marin County and back, and would not run on weekends.

But fundamental aspects of the plan have ignited debates that have played out in editorial pages, campaign forums and public meetings.

Both sides claim ownership of the facts, but for voters awash in campaign rhetoric from a tax-heavy ballot, finding the facts on the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit proposal has been tough going. Here are some of the basics:

Q: What is Measure R?

A: A quarter-cent sales tax that appears on the Nov. 7 ballot in Sonoma and Marin counties.

After rejection of five rail measures in Marin and Sonoma counties since 1990, it marks the first time voters in both counties have voted as a single district on funding for rail in the North Bay.

Q: How much would the rail system cost?

A: According to SMART, construction would cost $433 million, including $46 million for SMART's share of a parallel bike path. Operating costs are estimated at $14.2 million annually for rail, $1.3 million for shuttle bus service and $750,000 for the bike path.

Factoring in 20 years of operation, inflation and the cost of borrowing against future tax revenue, SMART officials put the total cost at $1.4 billion.

Q: Where would it run?

A: SMART would run 28 trains a day on 70 miles of track between Cloverdale to Larkspur, stopping at 14 stations. The project also includes a continuous, parallel bike and pedestrian path.

Q: Would the trains run at night or on weekends?

A: No. One midday train is proposed - the rest of the service would occur during peak morning and afternoon/evening commute hours.

Q: What would it cost?

A: Average one-way fare would be $4, but fares would reflect the distance traveled. SMART has not yet developed a specific rate structure.

Q: How many people would ride it?

A: SMART's environmental impact report said it would average 5,300 one-way trips daily if service starts in 2010.

Assuming most riders would be round-trip travelers, about 2,650 people would use the train daily.

One-way trips are expected to fall to 5,050 by 2025, assuming Highway 101 is widened to three lanes in each direction between Petaluma and Novato.

By comparison, Highway 101 at Steele Lane in Santa Rosa handles about 114,000 vehicles a day, according to Caltrans. At the south end of the line in Larkspur, Highway 101 at Sir Francis Drake Boulevard handles about 170,000.

Q: How would train service affect congestion on Highway 101?

A: According to the EIR, "much of the traffic congestion relief would be found on surface streets paralleling Highway 101, rather than on the freeway itself."

However, the duration of congestion during peak commute hours would probably be reduced with the start of rail service, according to the EIR, because fewer vehicles would be on the roads.

Q: How would it affect traffic around stations?

A: Twenty-six of the 38 intersections analyzed in the EIR would have nearly the same traffic flow with or without SMART.

The other 12 are not expected to meet their individual cities' traffic flow standards regardless of SMART, and the EIR could not determine how much adding train service would increase traffic.

Congestion would increase in downtown San Rafael, Railroad Square in Santa Rosa and downtown Petaluma but could be reduced by timing traffic signals with train schedules, according to the EIR.

Q: The city of Larkspur opposes it. Can it still stop there?

A: Yes. SMART owns the right of way into Larkspur. As is the case with any stop along the line, a depot or platform would have to conform to the local jurisdiction's planning and zoning regulations.

Q: How many train travelers would use the ferry?

A: According to the EIR, approximately 180 daily passengers are projected to get off the train in Larkspur, and between 40 and 55 of those would transfer to one of five morning ferries.

Q: How do SMART and express bus service compare?

A: The draft environmental study found daily ridership on express bus service would be 2,380 if that service were provided instead of rail service. But in the final report, SMART said express bus ridership would be 4,688 a day.

Agency officials now say that was based on unrealistic projections, and contend the number was recalculated to appease rail opponents who argue bus service is a more economically viable option than rail.

SMART opponents say express bus service provides just as many passenger trips without spending hundreds of millions of dollars to start up a train service.

Q: How would SMART affect air pollution?

A: Factoring in both car trips eliminated and emissions from diesel train cars, train service would eliminate 124,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per day, according to SMART's environmental report.

By comparison, more than 24.6 million pounds of greenhouse gases are produced in Sonoma County every day, about 10.6 million of which is caused by transportation - cars, buses, trucks and others, according to Sonoma County Climate Protection.

Q: Why not extend BART?

A: SMART officials say extending BART, an electric rail system, would cost 10 times what SMART proposes to spend for a diesel vehicle.

In addition, connecting to BART on the east side of the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge or tunneling through the Marin Headlands to add a rail connection to the Golden Gate Bridge would probably be environmentally unfeasible, SMART officials contend. And any modification to the Golden Gate Bridge is tightly regulated because of its historic status.

Q: If voters reject Measure R, what happens to freight service?

A: Freight can run regardless of the vote on Measure R because there is a freight easement that extends over SMART's right-of-way. Under the agreement, the freight operator has the right to operate, but must work around SMART.

SMART's final EIR estimates no more than six freight trains a week, all running at "off-peak hours," meaning when the passenger train doesn't run.

A complete analysis of the impacts of freight service was not required for SMART's EIR and was not performed.

Q: Is paving over the tracks for bus service an option?

A: No. Because of the freight easement, the freight provider must have the ability to use the tracks regardless of how voters deal with passenger rail.

Q: What happens if voters pass Measure R?

A: If passed by a two-thirds majority of the combined voters in Sonoma and Marin counties, a quarter-cent sales tax would go into effect April 1 and last 20 years. SMART officials say trains would be running by 2010.

Q: What will it cost voters personally?

A: A quarter-cent sales tax hike would mean every person in Sonoma County would pay an average of $36 per year, and in Marin County, $46 per year. But those numbers could vary widely, depending on spending patterns and inflation.

Q: What would happen if the tax can't buy what is promised?

A: The SMART board could ask for additional funds or scale back proposed services.

Q: What happens if voters reject Measure R?

A: If Measure R loses, SMART, an agency created by the Legislature in 2003, will not automatically disband.

<!--comments begin here-->The agency has a 12-member board composed primarily of local elected officials. It controls 70 miles of track and millions of dollars of public property, so regardless of the outcome of the vote, the board still would have to manage the rail system. <script language="JavaScript"> function textCounter( field, maxlimit ) { if ( field.value.length > maxlimit ) { field.value = field.value.substring( 0, maxlimit ); field.blur(); field.focus(); return false; } } </script>

[Sabrina]

Cutting through the clutter on SMART debate

Facts behind the rhetoric on Measure R's quarter-cent sales tax for commuter rail line

Well, I actually just went to the site and read the actual Smart Train Plan Details, and it contradicts several statements made by some of the people here who are against the smart train, and perhaps have not taken the time to go to the site to read. So here it is in your mail box. (Sounds like a smart plan to me, for starters anyway. I'd rather start with this, something that is the wave of the future, than start with building and expanding more smog friendly buses. Let the wider freeway be more carfree like it should be...and not start to immediately fill with more cars and...buses. Soon we can have space cars....:spacecar:)

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="92%"><tbody><tr><td width="100%">THE SMART PLAN: Plan Details</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <dl><dt>SMART will provide commuter and passenger rail service along 70 miles of existing railroad right-of-way from Cloverdale in <st1:placename w:st="on"> Sonoma</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on"> County</st1:placetype> to Larkspur in <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:placename w:st="on"> Marin</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on"> County</st1:placetype> </st1:place> .</dt><dt><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute; margin-left:340.5pt;margin-top:162pt;width:82.5pt;height:204.75pt;z-index:-1; mso-position-vertical-relative:page'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:DOCUME~1SEANST~1LOCALS~1Tempmsohtml1\03clip_image001.jpg" o:title="SMARTMapJuly7"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchory="page"/> </v:shape><![endif]--> </dt><dt>In order to estimate how much SMART will cost, give taxpayers a reasonable idea of what they’re paying for and identify potential environmental impacts, considerable work has gone into coming up with detailed plans for SMART. Still, even more detailed construction and engineering plans will be necessary once voters approve SMART.</dt></dl> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="4%">
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</td> <td width="96%">Schedule & Operations (https://www.gosmarttrain.com/plan_details.htm#schedule)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="4%">-</td> <td width="96%">SMART Trains (https://www.gosmarttrain.com/plan_details.htm#trains)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="4%">-</td> <td width="96%">Rail Stations (https://www.gosmarttrain.com/plan_details.htm#stations)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="4%">-</td> <td width="96%">Bicycle/Pedestrian Path (https://www.gosmarttrain.com/plan_details.htm#bike)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="4%">-</td> <td width="96%">Parking & Shuttle Service (https://www.gosmarttrain.com/plan_details.htm#parking)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="4%">-</td> <td width="96%">Railroad Right-of-Way (https://www.gosmarttrain.com/plan_details.htm#rightofway)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="4%">-</td> <td width="96%">Bridges, Roads & Tunnels (https://www.gosmarttrain.com/plan_details.htm#bridges)</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <dl><dt>Schedule and operations</dt><dt>SMART’s main purpose is to provide a commute alternative to driving on congested Highway 101. For that reason, SMART will operate only during weekdays and only during the heaviest commute times in the mornings and afternoons.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>Trains will run every 30 minutes, with the overall average round-trip fare at about $4.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>One of the chief advantages SMART has over cars and buses, which must travel on congested Highway 101, is how fast it will deliver commuters to their destination. SMART will cut in half—from about 98 minutes to about 45 minutes—the time it currently takes commuters driving or riding the bus to get from <st1:city w:st="on"> Santa Rosa</st1:city> to <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> San Rafael</st1:city> </st1:place> .</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>SMART will operate on a single track, using special technology and passing areas to run in both directions simultaneously. More importantly, the use of a single-track train eliminates the severe environmental impact of having to widen the railroad bed and also keeps down costs.</dt></dl> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <center> </center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%">
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <dl><dt>SMART Trains<o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>To reduce noise and emissions, the SMART District will operate trains known as diesel multiple units. These unique and modern trains, which are in operation in cities around the country, can run on different types of clean diesel fuel. They are much smaller than traditional locomotive trains, run much more quietly and with far fewer harmful emissions.</dt><dt></dt><dt>Because the technology around trains and engines is evolving so rapidly, the SMART District expects that other even more energy efficient and cleaner trains will be available by the time it starts service.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>SMART proposes operating 14 trains, which can run forward and backward and can carry up to 100 passengers each. The trains run at speeds of up to 80 mph, but with station stops and road crossings will average closer to 45-50 mph over the entire length of the line.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>The SMART trains are also much shorter than traditional freight locomotives, which means they don’t require large station platforms and they cause much shorter waits—of only seconds—at road crossings.</dt></dl>
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <dl><dt>Rail stations<o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>SMART will serve 14 stations along its route. The location of the stations was approved by individual city councils on SMART’s recommendation. Six of the stations have either been built, are under construction or will be constructed by local agencies. SMART will build the remaining eight stations.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>Several of the stations will preserve historic buildings and depots, including in downtown <st1:city w:st="on"> Santa Rosa</st1:city> , Healdsburg and downtown <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> Petaluma</st1:city> </st1:place> .</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>Each station will be outfitted with modern equipment and access, including for parking, shuttle and/or bus service and bicycles.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>Proposed Rail Stations<o:p> </o:p> </dt></dl>
<dl><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Cloverdale (<st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Asti Rd. south</st1:address> </st1:street> of Citrus Dr.)</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Healdsburg (<st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Harmon St</st1:address> </st1:street> .)</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Windsor (<st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Windsor Rd.</st1:address> </st1:street> and <st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Windsor River Rd.</st1:address> </st1:street> )</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> Santa Rosa</st1:city> </st1:place> (<st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Jennings Ave.</st1:address> </st1:street> and <st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Herbert St</st1:address> </st1:street> .)</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Santa Rosa (Historic depot at <st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Railroad Square</st1:address> </st1:street> )</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Rohnert Park (<st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Golf Course Dr.</st1:address> </st1:street> at <st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Roberts Lake Rd.</st1:address> </st1:street> )</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Cotati ( <st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Cotati Ave.</st1:address> </st1:street> and <st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Industrial Dr</st1:address> </st1:street> .)</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Petaluma (<st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Corona Rd.</st1:address> </st1:street> )*</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Downtown <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> Petaluma</st1:city> </st1:place> (Historic deposit near <st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Lakeville Highway</st1:address> </st1:street> )</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Novato north (<st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Atherton Ave.</st1:address> </st1:street> and <st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Redwood Blvd.</st1:address> </st1:street> )</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Novato south (Highway 101/Ignacio Ave.)**</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Marin Civic Center<o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Downtown <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> San Rafael</st1:city> </st1:place> (Tamalpais)*</dt><dt style="margin: 3pt 0in 3pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ø Larkspur Ferry<o:p> </o:p> </dt></dl>
<dl><dt>
</dt><dt>* Two options being considered<o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>** <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> Novato</st1:city> </st1:place> has requested reconsideration of this site</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>See a map of station locations<o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>As part of the project, SMART will create new parking or expand existing parking at most stations for riders who don’t walk, bike or take a free SMART shuttle or local bus. From the existing total of 533 parking spots at the 14 stations, SMART plans to add 1,775 new spaces with no new parking at Healdsburg, <st1:street w:st="on"> <st1:address w:st="on"> Railroad Square</st1:address> </st1:street> in <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> Santa Rosa</st1:city> </st1:place> , Downtown San Rafael or Larkspur.<o:p> </o:p> </dt></dl> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <center> </center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%">
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <dl><dt>Bicycle/Pedestrian path<o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>Another important and valuable element of the SMART project is the opportunity it provides to create a bicycle/pedestrian pathway that will run along much of the railroad’s 70-mile line.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>About 54 miles of the path will run along side the railroad right-of-way, with another 17 miles traveling on existing roads. Fencing and other safety elements will separate the train from the pathway.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>The plans for the path fit with broader plans developed by both Marin and <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> Sonoma</st1:city> </st1:place> counties for improving their bicycle transportation networks. Not only does the SMART path provide recreational opportunities, it provides another commute alternative and also a route for people riding their bicycle to the train.</dt></dl> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <center> </center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%">
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <dl><dt>Parking and shuttle services<o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>A critical part of SMART’s success will involve making it convenient for riders to get to and from the train, whether they walk, bike, drive or take the bus.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>In addition to coordinating with existing local bus service, SMART will provide free shuttle service at nine of its busiest stations, including both <st1:city w:st="on"> Petaluma</st1:city> stations, both <st1:city w:st="on"> Novato</st1:city> stations, both <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> San Rafael</st1:city> </st1:place> stations and the Larkspur ferry station.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>Designed primarily to get workers from the train to concentrated employment centers in downtown areas or business/commercial parks, the shuttle service will operate every 30 minutes and arrivals and departures will coincide with the train schedule.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>In addition to SMART’s free shuttles, a number of private employees in both Marin and <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> Sonoma</st1:city> </st1:place> counties have expressed interest in operating their own employee shuttles.</dt></dl> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <center> </center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%">
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <dl><dt>Railroad right-of-way<o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>One of the biggest advantages SMART has a transportation alternative is that it will operate on an existing railroad right-of-way. SMART will run along a single, nearly 70-mile railroad track from Cloverdale in northern <st1:placename w:st="on"> Sonoma</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on"> County</st1:placetype> to Larkspur in central <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:placename w:st="on"> Marin</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on"> County</st1:placetype> </st1:place> .</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>The Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District, the public agency formed in 2003 to manage the start-up of rail service, owns the entire rail line, whose value has been estimated at more than $1 billion, and additional land where various stations are located.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>All of the existing and outdated track will be replaced with new, modern rails and rail ties that are specifically designed to reduce noise and give a smooth ride. In addition, a number of old, wooden trestles and bridges, some damaged during recent winter storms, will be replaced.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>See a map of the entire line<o:p> </o:p> </dt></dl> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <center> </center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%">
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <dl><dt>Bridges, roads and tunnel<o:p> s</o:p></dt><dt>SMART crosses numerous bridges and small trestles, intersects with about 100 public roads and passes through two tunnels.</dt><dt><o:p> </o:p> </dt><dt>All of the bridges and trestle, many of which are wood and suffered damaged during recent winter storms, will either be replaced or reinforced. All of the roadway intersections will be equipped with some combination of safety warning devices, including gates, lights and bells. And the two tunnels—Cal Park Hill in Larkspur and Puerto Sueno in central <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> San Rafael</st1:city> </st1:place> —will be renovated with a combination of funding from local governments and SMART</dt></dl> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%">
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Contradictions I cought were:

The article says the avarage one way cost would be $4.00, but the Smart train site says that it's an avarage $4.00 ROUND TRIP.


It says that trains will run every 30 minutes (yes on weekdays only, and only during the heavy traffic hours in the am and pm) but not only