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Re: SMART Progress On Haystack; DMUs Arriving Soon
Author: synonymouse
Date: 02-13-2015 - 12:33
SMART is not that popular in the Northbay. Here are some issues:
1. The NWP line is from the 19th century and features many curves and grade crossings. Most roads hereabouts are very congested and getting worse. Add to that crazy-ass motorists who think nothing about blowing stop signs and red lights. 79mph is not likely to persist under those conditions.
2. Transit use in the Northbay is limited, with a significant part to the magnet designation of San Francisco, where SMART doodlebuggies will never go. SMART patronage will not live up to promises and it will eventually try to grab subsidy monies from existing bus operations. The bus system serves more people.
3. Transit and freight are in a cold war, viz., SMART vs. NCRA-NWP. One of them has to go.
4. Ultimately SMART is just a placeholder for MTC and its pet "BT". "B" can mean either BART or Bechtel and "T" means technology. That's BART talking heads lingo for Indian Broad Gauge, 1000VDC third rail, yada yada.
1. The NWP line is from the 19th century and features many curves and grade crossings. Most roads hereabouts are very congested and getting worse. Add to that crazy-ass motorists who think nothing about blowing stop signs and red lights. 79mph is not likely to persist under those conditions.
2. Transit use in the Northbay is limited, with a significant part to the magnet designation of San Francisco, where SMART doodlebuggies will never go. SMART patronage will not live up to promises and it will eventually try to grab subsidy monies from existing bus operations. The bus system serves more people.
3. Transit and freight are in a cold war, viz., SMART vs. NCRA-NWP. One of them has to go.
4. Ultimately SMART is just a placeholder for MTC and its pet "BT". "B" can mean either BART or Bechtel and "T" means technology. That's BART talking heads lingo for Indian Broad Gauge, 1000VDC third rail, yada yada.
