Train videos are wonderful. The expensive vehicles that SMART
runs are pretty and clean. Views through the grasslands are lovely.
Everyone loves trains. I love trains.

SMART is different. Rail supporters need to realize
that something happened in March 2020 that should be a warning
to all of those that think trains offer a solution to the "congestion problem."

Once voters in Marin and Sonoma counties were informed about
SMART's costs -- and, in particular, the unbelievably high taxpayer
subsidy per boarding -- they voted against the tax extension measure.
And they did so in a big way. Measure Q (2008) passed with almost
70% of the vote. Measure I (March 2020) got less than 54% of the vote.

Those paying attention need to consider why this happened, because voters
still love trains. On the other hand, they aren't interested in subsidizing travel
by train by the sizeable subsidy required by SMART's incredibly high costs
of providing the trip. And it's huge for the number of passengers the trains
can generate.

Forum participants also need to consider why SMART has sponsored the wording
in SB 904 (Dodd) promoting the idea of "citizen's initiative." If not changed
by the Taxpayer Protection Act on the Nov. statewide ballot, theoretically
a CI based tax extension measure could pass with only 50% of the vote.

Now why would they do this if they were confident of winning the next
tax extension measure?

The answer: they're very worried and they're betting on extensions to Windsor
and maybe Healdsburg could improve their chances. Hence, they're unlikely to
place the extension on the Nov. ballot -- still tbd.

Meanwhile, they're spending sales tax dollars to buy ridership with free fares.
And what is the impact of this? Lower farebox recovery rates. It's currently
only 6% which means 94% of the cost of each trip is being paid for by local
taxpayers who don't ride the train. How likely is it voters will support this
level of subsidy?

And it's all happening because the local politicians conned the public in 2008
that a within suburban train system could do something that is simply not possible:
reduce traffic congestion on a major freeway during peak hours. Anyone still think
videos of traffic congestion will con voters next time around?