Re: State Senator Mike McGuire Drafting Legislation to Dissolve North Coast Railroad Authority
Author: synonymouse
Date: 03-13-2018 - 20:00
There is a precedent for the GG Bridge District receiving what is left of NCRA-NWP southern section as it had held part of the ROW prior to the existence of SMART. It has the resources and the gravitas to protect and upgrade the corridor over the long term. and to deal effectively with MTC-ABAG. It has a transport mandate all the way to Del Norte Co.
SMART has some runs passing thru Petaluma practically empty. Now so long as the locals feel the largess to subsidize such, especially with 2 man operation, I guess it will continue. But my take is said locals will in time notice the poor ridership and put 2 and 2 together. The route is not viable without southern Marin and the City. The truncated nature of the whole scheme will be highlighted when the Larkspur extension begins operations not even reaching the ferry terminal.
Marin is not happy with the mandated section 8 low income housing, which will be more draconian with the Weiner scheme. If SMART becomes equated with ghetto housing and creeping crime the consensus could be cut the schedules to the minimum commute and no upgrade or expansion. The Bridge District has the juice to deal with Weiner and Co. and come up with a compromise SMART-GGT line to the City plan that could pass.