Our vision for rail is a system that does the following:
We are extremely lucky in Sonoma County to have a railroad right-of-way that is owned by the public. It is our responsibility to ensure that this resource is used in a way that is economical, efficient and that meets the greatest needs. We see commute service, freight and tourism creating a symbiotic relationship that will ensure a solid economic base for the system, as well as meeting a number of different needs.
How do we achieve the vision when we currently have tracks in such bad repair that trains can't go over 10 mph; an existing freight service that only runs 10 trains a week; and virtually no passenger or tourism service?
Needed improvements to the rail line in Sonoma and Marin Counties are estimated to cost between $90 million and $120 million. The technology is easy, the question is how do we pay for it?
Based on the likelihood that we will eventually have a passenger rail system in Sonoma County, $17 million was set-aside in a 1990 statewide bond measure to help us fund track and station improvements. In order to get the bond money, we must (1) prove that a passenger rail system is financially viable and (2) have a source of local money to help fund it. Sonoma and Marin Counties have formed a Joint Powers Authority, the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit Commission (SMART). The Commission is exploring the options for initiating commute rail service in the region, in order to apply for the $17 million in funds set aside for the development of commute rail service in Sonoma County.
In the meantime, many cities are recognizing the value of their historic rail stations or sites. Santa Rosa has renovated their station, which is now used as a visitor center. Cloverdale recently opened a beautiful transit center, located on the rail line. Healdsburg and Petaluma's renovations are in progress. Windsor has adopted a rail area plan. Cotati and Rohnert Park are nearing completion of rail area studies.
Development of a viable freight service isn't just a county issue - not many businesses would pay to have freight carried on tracks that go from Cloverdale to Petaluma. In order to get long-haul traffic on the rail line, we must look at a larger area. Currently, the North Coast Rail Authority, in cooperation with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Authority is implementing a program to rehabilitate the right of way to meet minimum standards for freight and passenger excursion service from Sonoma to Eureka.
Increasing the freight traffic on the rail line will result in fewer trucks on the highway. One analysis estimates that 3,000 trucks a week could be taken off of Highway 101 if we had a fully operational freight system.2
Passenger rail service is a critical component of our vision. Numerous studies have shown that - with operating subsidies from local resources - commute rail is viable in Sonoma County3. Currently, SMART is conducting a detailed study to determine the optimum type of service for our county. The study will provide details on how much it will cost to ride the train and how much it will cost to run the system.
We envision historical trains operating via private vendors, who see the opportunity to take tourist off the road and give them a unique wine county experience. Passenger excursion trains will also provide a way for local residents to enjoy recreational opportunities in the county by scheduling trains that stop at recreational and retail centers.
