California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

Chapter IX – Commuter Rail Services
1980's have recommended the utilization of the NWP for passenger rail service.
Prior to the formation of the SMART Rail District, the project was planned by the
joint county SMART Commission, which was replaced by the SMART District
Board of Directors in 2003.
The SMART Commission sponsored the Sonoma Marin Transportation and Land
Use Study, in 1995, which recommended specific station locations and rail line
termini. In 2001, the Commission oversaw the Commuter Rail Implementation
Plan, which recommended 30-minute service along the line. Work to refine that
Plan and produce environmental clearance for the project was initiated in 2001.
Consultant contracts to develop rail systems planning work (2001), environmental
analysis (2003), community outreach (2002), and station planning (2003) are
on-going. The Draft Environmental Impact Report is expected in fall, 2005.
Current implementation plans include service start up in 2009-10 along a 70-mile
corridor with service from Cloverdale to the existing Larkspur ferry terminal.
Fourteen stations are planned: nine in Sonoma County and five in Marin County.
Service assumptions include 30-minute peak period headways and twelve trains
per day. Initial ridership is estimated at about 5,000 per day. DMU rail vehicles
are currently being evaluated for use along the corridor.
The SMART estimates capital costs (in 2004 dollars) to upgrade tracks, build
stations and a maintenance facility, and purchase vehicles at $340 million for the
full 70-mile corridor. Projected operating costs are $10-12 million per year.
Approximately $120 million in local, State and Federal funding has been set aside
for the project. The remaining funding for the project, including on-going
operating funds, would come from a district wide one-quarter-cent sales tax
measure. It is anticipated that measure will be placed on the ballot in
November 2006.
AUBURN-OAKLAND REGIONAL RAIL SERVICE
Six agencies have partnered to develop a service concept plan for a new regional
commuter rail service in the urban corridor extending from Auburn (Bowman) to
Oakland. The agencies are: the CCJPA, Contra Costa Transportation Authority,
Solano Transportation Authority, Yolo County Transportation District,
Sacramento Regional Transit District, and Placer County Transportation Planning
Agency. The UP, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and the
Department also participated in the study that was originated in 2002. The new
service would augment existing Capitol Corridor intercity service by providing
additional peak period capacity for within the greater Sacramento urban area and
between Auburn and the Bay Area. The two services would utilize the same
equipment, staff, and fare structure, and thus would appear fully unified to the
riding public.
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