In light of an expected $350 million shortfall on a proposed passenger rail plan that would run through the North Bay, the Novato City Council is considering a "show all work" note to be placed on the homework turned in by the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit board.

The council on Monday night is expected to rubber-stamp the idea of sending a letter to SMART with a request that it provide financial details and plan for how the transit body plans to complete a proposed 34-mile southern segment of the 70-mile line between Larkspur and Cloverdale.

SMART announced a decrease of $350 million in anticipated sales tax revenue and has scaled back its initial plans for the light rail system that was approved by voters in Marin and Sonoma counties in November 2008. The plan now has SMART starting with a 34-mile line between downtown Santa Rosa and the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael.

On Nov. 30, a letter written by Fifth District Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold, who represents most of Novato, was approved by the county board and sent to SMART requesting that it send a long-term viability report to the board and answer questions about the Civic Center station. SMART's initial plan is to provide buses to carry passengers between the Civic Center, the downtown San Rafael transit center and the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.

Supervisor Steve Kinsey, the board's representative to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, requested a long-term viability study be completed by the MTC so there is an independent review of SMART's plans. Kinsey represents West Marin and a small western portion of Novato on the county board.

The draft letter that is to be considered by the Novato City Council was prompted by concerns from residents in response to published reports about the rail system's plan to shorten the line. In short, SMART is not proposing to provide the service that was approved by taxpayers two years ago, the letter says.

The council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Novato City Hall.