Politics & Government

Key SMART Vote April 20 on Bridge and Station in Novato

Budget shortfalls forcing board to delay or eliminate $88 million, and parts of that could be North Novato Station and Novato Creek Bridge refurbishing.

Two key Novato pieces to the North Bay’s passenger rail puzzle could be tossed out April 20 as part of cost cutting moves.

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District's board of directors on Wednesday reviewed 10 ways to cut $88 million from the cost of the commuter train and bike path between Sonoma and Marin counties. Two of those 10 choices are the North Novato station on Atherton Avenue and the Novato Creek Bridge near the .

The board is scheduled to vote April 20 on the proposals to reduce the project's cost in light of a projected $109 million revenue shortfall.

Find out what's happening in Novatowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Deferring the replacement of the Novato Creek Bridge would save $5 million, and deferring the construction of the Atherton station — between the Fireman’s Fund Insurance headquarters on San Marin Drive and Highway 101 — would trim $5.3 million.

Novato City Councilwoman and SMART board member Carole Dillon-Knutson said deferring the building of the Atherton station means 500 riders working for three major employers in Novato would not use the train.

Find out what's happening in Novatowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Marin County Supervisor and SMART Director Judy Arnold said deferring replacement of the Novato Creek Bridge would jeopardize public safety because debris trapped at the bridge during heavy rain would cause water to cover the train tracks.

Voters in both counties approved a quarter-cent sales tax in 2008 to pay for the $590 million, 70-mile rail line and pathway between Cloverdale and Larkspur starting in 2014.

Because of reduced sales tax revenue and an adverse bond market, the train initially will run 37 miles between Railroad Square in downtown Santa Rosa and the San Rafael Transit Center at a cost of $470 million. The line would be extended north and south if more revenue becomes available.

Reducing the proposed bike and pedestrian pathway's length by one-third to save $14 million is among the 10 cost-cutting options. Building the entire pathway would cost $42 million.

Members of both the Marin County and Sonoma County Bicycle coalitions told the board members Wednesday that they accept that cut but want the directors to commit to building the remaining two-thirds of the pathway. About 30 members of the coalitions attended the meeting.

Rehabilitating instead of replacing the 100-year-old Haystack Bridge in Petaluma would save $15 million, as would reducing the size of the proposed operations and maintenance  facility. Deferring ticket vending machines and a fiber optic communications system would save $8.8 million; and deferring the Corona Road station in Petaluma would save $11.5 million.

Sonoma County Supervisor and SMART board member Shirlee Zane said she wants SMART to still build the $29 million Guerneville Road station north of downtown Santa Rosa because 30,000 people attend schools or work at two of the county's top three employers in that area.

Petaluma Mayor David Glass told the board the city wants the operations and maintenance facility built in Petaluma. It is scheduled to be built near Todd Road, just south of Santa Rosa.

SMART interim General Manager David Heath said the Santa Rosa to San Rafael project would generate 9,600 direct and indirect jobs.

Board members agreed with a Citizens' Oversight Committee's recommendation to make sure cost reductions do not reduce ridership.

— Bay City News Service


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