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Marin/Sonoma County voters Support Smart Rail Plan
Author: John Zanzi
Date: 07-14-2008 - 09:15
Here is the latest poll from SMART regarding voter support. Now, all they have to do is make sure the voters are "informed".
The SMART Passenger Train and Pathway Ballot Measure proposed for this November has received high marks in a recent poll conducted by Godbe Research. The firm surveyed a sample of 1205 voters in Marin and Sonoma counties in late May. The poll results showed that there is strong support, more than the required two-thirds, for the SMART ballot measure to win:
77% total overall informed support of the voters surveyed
77% total overall informed support for a 20 year duration
83% total informed support in Sonoma County
71% total informed support in Marin County
Voters were very responsive to protecting the environment and reducing global warming, relieving traffic congestion, and having alternatives to driving on Highway 101, especially in light of the rising cost of gasoline. They also agreed that passing SMART is a good investment for the future of transportation infrastructure and economy.
The polling showed that voters like environmentally-friendly transportation options like SMART, and want to see the publicly-owned rail right-of-way put to use to improve the North Bay transportation system. Knowing that the passenger train and pathway will link to train riders, bicyclists and pedestrians to buses and ferries was a plus to voters. They also liked the idea of taking 1.4 million car trips off of Highway 101 per year.
The SMART District is expected to vote to place the measure on the ballot at their meeting this month for the November 2008 election. The District comprises both Marin and Sonoma Counties and the measure must pass by two thirds voters in the District. In 2006, the measure just missed passing by 1.3%.
Since 2006, there has been an increase in traffic through the Highway 101 corridor, which is now the fourth most congested corridor in the Bay Area. Voters see SMART passenger train service and the pathway as a cost-effective investment in relieving that congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and avoiding sky high gas prices which have gone up significantly in the last two years.
The SMART Passenger Train and Pathway Ballot Measure proposed for this November has received high marks in a recent poll conducted by Godbe Research. The firm surveyed a sample of 1205 voters in Marin and Sonoma counties in late May. The poll results showed that there is strong support, more than the required two-thirds, for the SMART ballot measure to win:
77% total overall informed support of the voters surveyed
77% total overall informed support for a 20 year duration
83% total informed support in Sonoma County
71% total informed support in Marin County
Voters were very responsive to protecting the environment and reducing global warming, relieving traffic congestion, and having alternatives to driving on Highway 101, especially in light of the rising cost of gasoline. They also agreed that passing SMART is a good investment for the future of transportation infrastructure and economy.
The polling showed that voters like environmentally-friendly transportation options like SMART, and want to see the publicly-owned rail right-of-way put to use to improve the North Bay transportation system. Knowing that the passenger train and pathway will link to train riders, bicyclists and pedestrians to buses and ferries was a plus to voters. They also liked the idea of taking 1.4 million car trips off of Highway 101 per year.
The SMART District is expected to vote to place the measure on the ballot at their meeting this month for the November 2008 election. The District comprises both Marin and Sonoma Counties and the measure must pass by two thirds voters in the District. In 2006, the measure just missed passing by 1.3%.
Since 2006, there has been an increase in traffic through the Highway 101 corridor, which is now the fourth most congested corridor in the Bay Area. Voters see SMART passenger train service and the pathway as a cost-effective investment in relieving that congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and avoiding sky high gas prices which have gone up significantly in the last two years.
Marin/Sonoma County voters Support Smart Rail Plan