SMART Train Quiet Zones: Sonoma Supes Approve Funding

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved funding
for safety improvements at the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit commuter train's railroad crossings where quiet zones will be established.

The quiet zones at 15 crossings in unincorporated Sonoma County, Rohnert Park and Cotati prohibit engineers from sounding the train's horn unless it is to provide a warning or in an emergency.

The board approved $800,000 from the general fund budget for safety improvements at 11 of the 15 crossings in the county. The cities of Rohnert Park and Cotati will pay for safety improvements at the remaining
four crossings.

The safety improvements include crossing arms and raised medians that prevent vehicles from driving through the crossings when a train approaches.

The construction of the safety improvements is expected to take two months. The county will then file a Notice of Establishment with the Federal Railroad Authority, and the quiet zones will take effect in 21 days.

Other crossings in Sonoma and Marin counties also are designated quiet zones along the 43-mile rail line between Airport Boulevard north of Santa Rosa and downtown San Rafael. Residents living near the crossings had complained about the volume of the horn during SMART train testing this year.

The trains are scheduled to begin operating before the start of summer.

The SMART District revised its proposed timetable this week after receiving complaints about gaps as long as 90 minutes in service at some stations and not enough trains operating during peak commute hours.

"Based on the feedback we received from the general public, businesses and schools, we adjusted our schedule to shorten the wait times during the peak commuting hours," SMART District board chair Debora Fudge
said in a statement.

"We also must take into account our current staffing levels and coordinate with our transit partners so that our passengers can successfully make other public transit connections. It is difficult to find a schedule
that works for everyone, but we feel this is a good start," Fudge said.

"Once we start service and learn more from our customers, and we are able to hire more engineers, we will certainly look at expanding this schedule," Fudge said.

There will be 34 round trips through 10 stations Monday through Friday and 10 round trips on weekends.
The earliest weekday train will leave Airport Boulevard for San Rafael at 4:19 a.m. The earliest weekend train will leave Airport Boulevard at 10:15 a.m.

The last weekday train from San Rafael will arrive at Airport Boulevard at 9:42 p.m. and the last weekend train will arrive there at 9:57 p.m.

SMART District officials said the full 43-mile trip through the 10 stations is expected to take 67 minutes.

By Bay City News Service

Image via SMART Train/Twitter