Against the backdrop of this emotional debate two points loom large for me. One is that NCRA-NWP deserves one decent last chance to show it can function as a shortline on its own merits. If it can pay for its own maintenance, fine and dandy. If not, it needs to be out of here. If the SP did not want to subsidize it why should we? Public funds for public transit not private freight.

Point no. 2 - SMART is pathetic. As presently conceived it falls into the same category of exorbitant transit toy for the elite as the ferry boats. The only positive aspect of the SMART plan is that the deteriorating trackage south of Novato would be rebuilt but this is totally ruined by the incredibly stupid move of giving over half of the ROW to a bikelane so that double tracking is impossible. The ROW is the only thing SMART has of any future value and they are just throwing it away. You might as well put an acetylene torch in Misty's hand.

The bike lane manifestly deserves to go down to defeat. I actually get to vote on this turkey. When I was younger I used to buy into the "lesser of two evils" casuistry but now that I am ancient I feel no plan is preferable to a crappy plan.