 |
MTC delays SMART funding as costs increase.
Author: Mike Pechner
Date: 07-28-2011 - 10:22
SMART loses out on MTC funding -- for now
By Mark Prado
Marin Independent Journal
Posted: 07/27/2011 05:08:52 PM PDT
A powerful Bay Area transportation agency put the brakes on a plan to give the SMART commuter train project a package of $33 million to get its San Rafael to Santa Rosa line going.
On Wednesday the Metropolitan Transportation Commission decided to delay a vote on the money after Farhad Mansourian, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit agency's acting chief, concluded last week the rail project would cost another $45 million.
That news prompted the MTC to "hit the reset button" on the funding it planned to provide SMART, said John Goodwin, commission spokesman.
"There was a condition that if the costs of the SMART project increased the commission action would be deferred," he said.
Goodwin added the commission expects SMART officials will be able to cover the new $45 million shortfall. If that occurs before September, the MTC could approve the $33 million in funds — largely made up of money from bridge toll increases — at its meeting that month.
"But for now it will not happen sooner than September," Goodwin said.
The MTC is assisting SMART after the original Cloverdale to Larkspur line — which voters approved in 2008 — collapsed in the poor economy, which weakened the sales tax base the system is fueled on.
Mansourian, charged with taking a fresh look at finances as well as project components, has recommended revisions that boost funding projections and cut some costs while increasing
Advertisement
others.
He said Wednesday he is confident a funding plan will soon be in place. It now has a price tag of $380 million to connect San Rafael and Santa Rosa.
The project, set to start in 2014, could be pushed back a year or two. Mansourian's calculations indicate a $12 million saving in operations costs each year the train is delayed.
In all, he recommended adding $70 million to more realistically reflect costs, including $26 million in a communications and anti-collision system account; $11 million for an operations and maintenance facility; $10 million for more professional staff; $4 million for grade crossing and systems work between Civic Center and San Rafael; $2.8 million for additional "quiet zone" improvements; and $5 million for a bridge at Novato Creek.
At the same time, he cited up to $82 million in potential savings through delaying operations for two years, $24 million; eliminating NWP freight train restrictions during construction, $10 million; track adjustments at station platforms, $6 million; platform amenity cuts, $4.5 million; operations and maintenance fund reductions, $10.2 million; and assuming a 4 percent growth in sales tax revenue, rather than 3 percent, $22 million.
Contact Mark Prado via email at mprado@marinij.com
By Mark Prado
Marin Independent Journal
Posted: 07/27/2011 05:08:52 PM PDT
A powerful Bay Area transportation agency put the brakes on a plan to give the SMART commuter train project a package of $33 million to get its San Rafael to Santa Rosa line going.
On Wednesday the Metropolitan Transportation Commission decided to delay a vote on the money after Farhad Mansourian, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit agency's acting chief, concluded last week the rail project would cost another $45 million.
That news prompted the MTC to "hit the reset button" on the funding it planned to provide SMART, said John Goodwin, commission spokesman.
"There was a condition that if the costs of the SMART project increased the commission action would be deferred," he said.
Goodwin added the commission expects SMART officials will be able to cover the new $45 million shortfall. If that occurs before September, the MTC could approve the $33 million in funds — largely made up of money from bridge toll increases — at its meeting that month.
"But for now it will not happen sooner than September," Goodwin said.
The MTC is assisting SMART after the original Cloverdale to Larkspur line — which voters approved in 2008 — collapsed in the poor economy, which weakened the sales tax base the system is fueled on.
Mansourian, charged with taking a fresh look at finances as well as project components, has recommended revisions that boost funding projections and cut some costs while increasing
Advertisement
others.
He said Wednesday he is confident a funding plan will soon be in place. It now has a price tag of $380 million to connect San Rafael and Santa Rosa.
The project, set to start in 2014, could be pushed back a year or two. Mansourian's calculations indicate a $12 million saving in operations costs each year the train is delayed.
In all, he recommended adding $70 million to more realistically reflect costs, including $26 million in a communications and anti-collision system account; $11 million for an operations and maintenance facility; $10 million for more professional staff; $4 million for grade crossing and systems work between Civic Center and San Rafael; $2.8 million for additional "quiet zone" improvements; and $5 million for a bridge at Novato Creek.
At the same time, he cited up to $82 million in potential savings through delaying operations for two years, $24 million; eliminating NWP freight train restrictions during construction, $10 million; track adjustments at station platforms, $6 million; platform amenity cuts, $4.5 million; operations and maintenance fund reductions, $10.2 million; and assuming a 4 percent growth in sales tax revenue, rather than 3 percent, $22 million.
Contact Mark Prado via email at mprado@marinij.com
| Subject | Written By | Date/Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
 MTC delays SMART funding as costs increase. |
Mike Pechner | 07-28-2011 - 10:22 |