More than 70 percent of respondents to an Argus-Courier online poll Nov. 13, 2008 say they plan to ride the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit passenger trains “frequently” or “occasionally” when the service is up and running in about five years.
Asked if they would ride the high-speed rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles once it is up and running in nine years, less than 60 percent said they would ride it.
Less than half (48.1 percent) said these new passenger rail systems ” which will become reality due to the passage of Measure Q in Sonoma and Marin counties and Proposition 1A statewide ” would change their transportation habits.
Here are some of the comments by those who responded to the survey:
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“I will probably ride the Sonoma-Marin Rail Transit at least once just out of curiosity. However, I do not have the need to go to Marin County nor to other cities in Sonoma County very often. I would not like the additional need to take shuttles or other bus service to get to a final destination.”
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“I”m very happy this finally passed.”
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“The SMART train goes nowhere. It”s too expensive and unrealistic. A real waste of time.”
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“I am currently looking for a new job. Without SMART and with the still high cost of operating a car, I have to look close to home. I wish that SMART would have happened 10 years ago.”
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“I”d rather see a county-wide bus system that really works!”
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“Connect SMART to San Francisco via a rail or subway line rather than a bus and then the ferry.”
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“We need a better infrastructure in transportation for our future.”
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“SMART proponents now have their foot in the door. Regrettably, I feel casino online that my house is about to be robbed. The quarter-percent sales tax will never cover all construction and operating expenses.”
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“The reason they wouldn”t change my transportation habits is because I don”t commute. I would only ride it for pleasure. If I did commute, I would ride it every day.”
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“I”d like to congratulate those who voted yes on Prop. 1A. You have just put the state of California further in debt. Contrary to popular belief, bonds are not free. The interest paid on those bonds comes right out of the general fund. And you”ve just taken money away from schools.”
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“It”s a long time coming. We should have had it despite Moron County”s objections. We would have proved its worthiness. Now to bring back the Petaluma train station back to what it was supposed to be. Not a place where bad taste in art is displayed.
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“A waste of money.”