How little the NWP uses the ROW and the fact that its used at night only with freight, SMART should have done light rail and designed the conditions to be like the Sprinter. They could have easily gotten a time-separated waiver from the FRA... I have also noticed that SMART is wasting $$$ by building Class 4 tracks when the DMUs are limited to slower speeds due to stations, turns, etc. I recently read an article that SMART could build to Windsor for substantially less cost, if they would just let up on building a golden plated railroad. I know most of the costs going to Windsor are PTC, but the article has a point that not every part of the track needs class 4 conditions.

In the end, SMART will never truly be profitable and will always be propped up. SMART's vision was to provide an option for people with lower income to be able to commute to the bay area for work. I see home prices in Cloverdale, and they are expensive.

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