Marin Voice: Working together for a solution

By Lillian Hames and Deb Hubsmith
Marin IJ, April 1, 2010

THE IJ's recent page 1 story about funding for the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit bicycle and pedestrian pathway, and Monday's editorial cartoon on the same subject, were full of drama and conflict.

Unfortunately, neither was an accurate reflection of the issue.

In reality, there is no drama or conflict between SMART and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition. Since the inception of SMART more than 10 years ago, our organizations have worked cooperatively to create a valuable new transportation alternative for North Bay residents. A complete train and pathway project remains our mutual goal.

As has been well documented in these pages, the faltering economy has created financial challenges for SMART. While this has not affected the design and engineering work for the train and pathway necessary at this stage of the project, a shortfall is projected as SMART enters the construction phase by the end of 2011.

SMART staff, its board of directors and its many supporters are exploring strategies to fill that funding gap.

Last week, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition and Transportation Alternatives for Marin delivered a letter to the SMART board of directors.

In it, bicycle advocates reaffirmed support for the project and restated a commitment to helping make this world-class system a reality.

The bike coalitions also made this pledge: They will help raise funding for the bicycle and pedestrian pathway for SMART, in an amount proportionate to the cost of the pathway versus the overall cost of the project. Bicycle advocates also committed to helping SMART find ways to fill the remaining portion of its funding gap.

At a time when concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and health are helping to steer the debate about our nation's transportation investments, SMART is well-positioned to compete for federal funding.

The commitment of local sales tax funds by the voters of Marin and Sonoma counties should provide significant leverage in this effort.

Those who continue to oppose SMART would love to drive a wedge between train supporters and bicycle advocates.

But not only do they ignore the solidarity that produced a 70-percent majority for Measure Q, they also present a false choice - this is not a matter of choosing between a train and a pathway.

The pathway always has been a central element of the SMART project.

It connects all 14 train stations and provides a transportation alternative to and from SMART rail service. It will reduce car trips while increasing ridership on the train.

SMART has not wavered from its commitment to the pathway, and still plans to deliver the pathway in conjunction with the train, as was promised to voters in Measure Q.

Our organizations will continue to work cooperatively toward this goal.

We are committed to a train and a pathway that together will benefit the environment, the economy and the quality of life in the North Bay.

Lillian Hames is general manager of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit and Deb Hubsmith is advocacy director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.