SMART DEBUTS
Matt Stevens, SMART ~ Sonoma Marin Area Rapid Transit's Public Relations Director for the past 16 years provided an up-to-the-minute recap of the agency's recent, August 25th maiden run.
We were informed that the last train to run between Santa Rosa and Eureka left the station in 1958. Those trains differed significantly from SMART's current fleet of 7 @2 car trains. Manufactured in Illinois by a Japanese company subsidiary, the 158 seat 160 standing coaches smoothly roll at 79 mph along the 43 mile route from Airport Blvd in Santa Rosa to San Rafael downtown, with a connector to the Larkspur ferry in 2019.
With a surprising jump in weekend ridership to 3,000 passengers~ and bicycles~ the ridership statistics are encouraging. In addition, Matt promoted everyone, especially us seniors, to use the versatile, inter-agency Clipper Cards for their fares on BART, SMART, area attractions and more!!
If you have not had your first SMART trip, it is time. And, when walking or biking near train crossings, STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN, without your earbuds blasting!
