The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Authority is tying some larger loose ends as it approaches its March vote, asking Marin and Sonoma county taxpayers to renew the sales tax that launched the service and is needed to keep it running.
Voters gave a green light to SMART in 2008 when a super-majority of voters from both counties endorsed Measure Q, a quarter-cent sales tax increase.
Soon after, SMART’s funding shortfall became clear and its leaders had to scale back its plan, dividing its Larkspur-to-Cloverdale plans into phases and reducing its promised rate of daily service.
But SMART started rolling between downtown Santa Rosa and downtown San Rafael in 2017 and has become a dependable service for many commuters and weekend travelers.
Two of SMART biggest loose ends have been the 2.2-mile link between downtown San Rafael and Larkspur Landing. That should be closed before the end of the year.
Another is the 90-minute gap in evening commute service, which falls short of SMART’s promise on the ballot that it would run “every 30 minutes during rush hours.”
SMART officials have also been exploring lowering its fares, a step that could help bolster ridership, essentially making public transit affordable to the public, which should be a top priority for all public transit providers.
The Larkspur connection, which cost $55.4 million, addresses a complaint raised by many riders and those interested in using SMART as a seamless way to get to the Larkspur ferries.
It is expected to add an estimated 231 riders to SMART’s commute runs.
SMART should make it a priority to improve on that projection.
SMART is also working on extending its service northward to Windsor, another step toward fulfilling the Larkspur-to-Cloverdale plan it proposed to voters in 2008.
In addition, in recent months, the state has been looking at extending SMART to Solano County in response to increasing number of Solano County residents commuting to Marin jobs.
By extending the SMART tax at this time, the agency can have the financial leverage it needs to more forward with other phases.
For many commuters, SMART has already become a faster, dependable and comfortable way to make their trek to and from their jobs. It is not for every commuter, but it is taking cars off the freeway. For many commuters, it is a workable alternative to the grind of the commute gridlock on Highway 101.
These improvements in SMART’s reach and its service should attract even more riders.
They should also answer some nagging questions voters would likely have about extending SMART’s sales tax.
SMART has its hard-core detractors; many of whom staunchly opposed Measure Q in 2008.
SMART’s leaders are wise to address them now.
