Ron has got it right.

SMART and the NCRA have been fighting over a new operating agreement.
SMART is insisting on one that is disadvantageous to freight operations,
the NCRA is claiming (per Chris Neary) "we already have one and can operate
under it."

The big issue is freight dispatch during the construction period.
SMART has huge additional costs that it has told the public about and
having to reconnect track for freight to operate during the construction
phase would add significant costs it can not afford.

The little problem SMART has is that they have sold the public a bill
of goods, including the claims of "Kumbaya" with freight.

I've even heard that SMART is contacting shippers and offerring to subsidize
their shipping costs so that they don't show up at SMART meetings complaining
at the delays.

We'll know more Wed afternoon after SMART holds its special meeting. Last time
it did this, it sued the signers of the ballot argument against Measure Q.