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Re: *** Rail planners envision SMART link to Solano County - Napa Valley Register
Author: BOB2
Date: 11-07-2017 - 08:09
This is being pushed by Dick Spotswood, there was a piece on this proposal in the TRAC newsletter. Traffic sucks even worse east west in the north Bay, than on the 101, there are some real opportunities, but there are no resources available, it would be costly to do it right, and there no political consensus, and not much political leadership.
As a retired rail planning professional, I don't necessarily feel this would be an "alternative" to additional freeway capacity, as Dick seems to assert. This is because of the wide geographic distribution of origins and destinations of those traversing that corridor. But, a properly designed and operated "first world" level of passenger operation could make a good dent in those trips headed to Marin and Southern Sonoma where the topography "funnels" those trips, with a concentration of destinations along the 101 corridor.
It would mean more evil Thomas, of course, so I can't wait for the usual coterie of trolls and train haters to chime in......
As a retired rail planning professional, I don't necessarily feel this would be an "alternative" to additional freeway capacity, as Dick seems to assert. This is because of the wide geographic distribution of origins and destinations of those traversing that corridor. But, a properly designed and operated "first world" level of passenger operation could make a good dent in those trips headed to Marin and Southern Sonoma where the topography "funnels" those trips, with a concentration of destinations along the 101 corridor.
It would mean more evil Thomas, of course, so I can't wait for the usual coterie of trolls and train haters to chime in......
