SMART is envisioning operating speeds way too high(80 mph) for the numerous traffic-jammed grade crossings of Marin and Sonoma. Marin in particular is not so big-city demoralized(like crime-wave San Jose)as to put up with it. They will scream bloody murder about accidents.

This could have been avoided with electric light rail that could incorporate steep ramps, viaducts and underpasses. But,no, they have to go with subsidized freight, ergo heavy FRA-AAR rail and spendy doodlebugs. Dumb move and one that will ensure SMART is irrelevant and ineffective. Much cheaper to operate buses rattle around in the NorthBay mostly empty as it is.

Where they are going to find the funding to defray all the operating losses of all the proliferating inefficient, boondoggled transit operations is the real question for the future. All the botched Central Subways and Tehachapi Grande DeTours will take their fiscal toll. I foresee transit route subsidy death panels and our own Beeching Report in time. And lots of strikes.