SMART Train Schedule Change 'Not Smart,' Some Riders Say

NORTH BAY, CA – In observance of Veterans Day, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit is operating on a holiday schedule Friday, leaving some SMART riders searching for other transportation options and voicing their frustrations on social media.

Veterans Day is always on Nov. 11. Because the holiday falls on a Saturday this year, many government agencies and court systems are observing the holiday on Friday. Most businesses, however, will be open and most people will still be going to work.

Still, SMART announced on social media and via SMART Alerts that trains would be rolling on a weekend schedule on Friday.

This means that there will be 10 trips instead of the usual 34 trips along the 43-mile route to and from the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa and downtown San Rafael, with stops at stations in between the two cities. Southbound service will begin at 10:13 a.m. out of Santa Rosa and northbound service will begin at 11:52 a.m. out of San Rafael on Friday.

Multiple riders, including veterans, shared their frustrations over the schedule change on social media.

"Can you guys reevaluate this?" Matthew Melone asked on Facebook. "I'm a veteran, and yes, I'm working on Friday like everyone else."

"This veteran would prefer frequent transit to honor my service," said Josh Handel, adding that he spent four years in the Air Force.

Jamison Altbach said he did not understand the "logic" behind the schedule change.

"I feel like you are making a mistake here," he said. "If your intention is actually to observe Veterans Day, why don't you make fares free for all card-carrying vets on Saturday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day?"

"Not a 'smart' move!" Yvonne Carson said.

Vicki Schirado said she would have to find another way to work.

"I appreciate the heads up as I won't be able to take the train to work on Friday as planned and now I know to make other arrangements," Schirado said. "I do think in future years you should reevaluate the choice to restrict service to the extremely limited weekend schedule for this holiday though because it isn't a holiday for most folks, except for a few government agencies."

A few riders pointed out that other Bay Area transportation agencies would be operating on normal schedules Friday.

Other than one exception, Bay Area Rapid Transit District is operating on a normal schedule.

"While overall people can expect normal service, on holidays when we expect a dip in ridership we do not dispatch the extra commute trains that run during the peak of the morning and evening commutes between Montgomery and Pleasant Hill stations," BART spokesman Chris Filippi said. "Passengers on the Pittsburg-Bay Point line during the peak hours should expect 10-15 minute headways."

San Francisco Muni is running on a normal weekday schedule, according to spokesman Paul Rose.

Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferries are also operating on normal schedules on Friday, according to Roger Colton, customer relations supervisor for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. Only Ferry Shuttle Route 31 will operate on a holiday schedule, according to the district's website.

A relatively new transportation option in the North Bay, SMART started providing full passenger service in August.

"I know you are new at this and I'm rooting for you, but you need to rethink this sort of thing," Lynn Levy said on Facebook. "You now provide a service on which the public relies, and you have to meet that obligation."

By Thursday evening, SMART had not responded to the more than 30 comments on the agency's Facebook page. SMART replied to some of the commenters Friday morning.

"As a new service, we appreciate your feedback and your patience as we learn and grow," one comment read.

SMART responded to Patch Thursday evening.

"We have received feedback from passengers who prefer that we run the regular schedule for Veterans Day because many of them do not have that day off as a holiday," SMART spokeswoman Jeanne Belding told Patch. "We will definitely take that feedback into account and re-evaluate it for next year."

Belding added that SMART offers veterans 50 percent discounts through its Eco Pass program. Veteran Eco Passes can be purchased through participating veterans organizations.

See below or click here for SMART's Friday schedule.

Photo courtesy Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com