Updated: Bike and Pedestrian Trail Along SMART Path Likely to be Cut by a Third

Planners for Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit line say building a bicycle and pedestrian pathway alongside the 37-mile railway from San Rafael to downtown Santa Rosa is a key component to the train, but financial woes have crippled project. 

Originally priced at $99 million, segments of the multi-use path were axed in November when SMART OK'd shortening the 70-mile train proposed to extend from Larkspur to Cloverdale. Now, transit planners want to cut the bike and pedestrian pathway again, this time by a third — a move that's expected to shave $14 million off of the $42 million price tag. 

At a board meeting April 6, SMART staff recommended the one-third cut to make sure the San Rafael to Santa Rosa segment gets built on time, according to Jake Mackenzie, vice mayor of Rohnert Park and who also sits on the SMART board.

The final decision will be made April 20.

Chris Coursey, community outreach manager for SMART, said any portion of the multi-use path that's cut will likely be funded through future grants instead of actual sales tax dollars. Nevertheless, some Rohnert Park bicycle advocates are upset.

"The multi-use path was a major reason why I voted for the train," said Creighton Bell, chair of the Rohnert Park Bicycle Advisory Committee. "That's true for a lot of people, many voted for the train because of the bicycle component."

Coursey said the board acknowledges that the the multi-use path was a major reason Measure Q was passed by voters with a nearly 70 percent in November 2008.

"The pathway is an integral part of the project," Coursey said.

Christine Culver, executive director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, called the multi-use path the backbone of the Sonoma County community bicycle network.

"This is an essential community connector for people who need to rely on other transportation besides a personal car," Culver said. "And there are lots of those people out there, we just don’t see them."

"I'd be very disappointed if it gets cut in any way. People learn to appreciate the places around them so much more if they can slow down to walking pace," said Cotati resident Jenny Blaker, who said she walks and cycles as much as possible within five miles. "A trail increases connection with place and people, as well as connectivity between particular places. I think that’s very important."

Blaker said a pathway that connects communities would encourage her to travel by bike to Petaluma or Santa Rosa.

"It's obviously important because of health, exercise, increasing obesity, the environment and reducing greenhouse gasses ... and from the transportation point of view, I think people would be more willing to cycle distances if they didn't have to enter traffic," Blaker added. "I know I would."

Coursey said he wasn't sure which segment of the multi-use path would be put on hold, but the board is looking at other cost saving measures, such as eliminating some stations in close proximity to each other. The Atherton Avenue station in Novato and the Corona Road stop in Petaluma could be put on hold.

"We'll be seeking the public's input in the decision on what gets deferred or not," he said.

Because the sales tax revenues have not kept pace with the cost of the project, rail planners are considering a piecemeal approach to the pay for completion of the multi-use path — relying largely on federal, state and local grants.

"The trail is primarily funded by Measure Q, but we're looking at additional funding," Coursey said. "The sales tax revenues we anticipated, along with the economy, have taken a steep decline over the last three years."

SMART has received $1.83 million in grants for the bike and pedestrian trail, from state environmental programs, the Sonoma County Transportation Authority, Measure M sales tax funds and the San Francisco Bay Trail Project, according to Coursey. And, many cities are looking for their own ways to fund the path.

In Sonoma County, the Regional Parks Department is building two sections of the pathway in Southwest Santa Rosa, and the City of Santa Rosa is constructing pathway between Eighth Street and College Avenue, Coursey said in an email. SMART has committed $200,000 in Measure Q matching funds for these projects.

In addition, a project to get federal grant monies to build the pathway is underway, but SMART must undergo a federal environmental review, which could take an additional 18 months.  

Editor's note: The SMART board will discuss future cuts at a special 1:30 p.m. meeting tomorrow, held at Santa Rosa City Hall, 130 Santa Rosa Ave. Click here to view the agenda. See a .