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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

July 20, 2006

Transit sales tax on ballots

Marin, Sonoma to vote on rail system next to Highway 101

The Sonoma-Marin Rail Transit District's governing board of directors voted 10-1 Wednesday to place the sales tax measure on the ballot in the two North Bay counties. The plan needs at least two-thirds approval by voters to pass.

The cost of the $1.4 billion project would be spread over 20 years and provide train service from Cloverdale in Sonoma County to Larkspur in Marin County, with 14 stops along the way. It would operate along about 70 miles of the old Northwestern Pacific rail corridor. An adjacent bicycle and pedestrian path would be created.

Backers say the project would cut air pollution and provide an alternative for commuters who drive Highway 101 -- the main north-south artery in Marin and Sonoma that is known for bumper-to-bumper traffic during rush hour.

"This is of regional importance,'' Sonoma County Supervisor Tim Smith told the rail district directors, who met in San Rafael's City Hall to consider the plan. "Little did I know that NASA was able to build a space station faster than we could get this train moving.''

Projected ridership along the route is 5,050 boardings a day, a study commissioned by the rail district indicated.

Opponents say the proposed usage doesn't justify the costs.

The rail service "will not provide significant congestion relief in the Highway 101 corridor -- one of the prime envisioned benefits of a local rail system -- and it will have significant environmental impacts on dwindling wetlands, increase noise pollution, and (carry) the potential to induce excessive population growth,'' said Roger Roberts, president of the Marin Conservation League.

But other environmentalists support the project, including Sonoma County Conservation Action and Greenbelt Alliance.

Novato Mayor Carole Dillon-Knutson, who serves on the rail district's board of directors, said it was the backing of business leaders that persuaded her to vote in favor of putting the plan before voters.

"We don't want to be stuck in gridlock,'' she said.

Basia Crane, secretary of the Marin United Taxpayers Association, one of the groups leading opposition to the proposed tax increase, said train service is the wrong way to proceed.

"Who says we must get people out of their cars?'' she said. "Do we want to lower our standard of living and be like China and India -- everyone on bicycles? There's nothing wrong with the car.''

The board of directors also approved the final environmental report -- an in-depth study looking at the rail project effect on everything from noise to traffic.

Marin County Supervisor Hal Brown voted against putting the measure on the ballot, as well as the final environmental report.

Marin County Supervisor Charles McGlashan, who voted in favor, said Wednesday's actions were just "the starting gun for the real debate that's going to come.''

E-mail Rachel Gordon at rgordon@sfchronicle.com.

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