Editorial: With SMART numbers in spotlight, commuter train showing some signs of progress

SMART has a lot on its plate. It is extending its tracks north to Windsor, another step in keeping the promise it made to voters in the 2008 sales tax election.

The public transit system is also focusing on building ridership. The number of people getting a lift on SMART trains has bounced back from the pandemic thanks to lowering fares and providing free rides to youths under 16 and senior citizens. Higher prices at gasoline pumps and growing traffic congestion likely also drive passengers onto SMART.

In addition, SMART is busy working on bike paths that were promised in the 2008 vote.

Those three objectives are centerpieces in SMART’s proposed 2024-25 budget.

It is a spending plan that says SMART is moving forward, building and growing its service.

Eddy Cumins, SMART’s general manager, says the agency’s focus is providing a viable and affordable alternative to people driving their cars and jamming Highway 101.

It is launching a marketing plan aimed at delivering that message.

Similar to the Golden Gate ferries’ success, SMART has to sell itself as an affordable, reliable and less stressful alternative to driving a car and being stuck in traffic. The promise of being able to zip past commuters stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic is a huge plus.

Getting more people to make that switch is SMART’s best marketing tool.

It’s working as April’s ridership hit 80,405 riders, 37% more than the number that rode SMART in April 2023.

That means the potential of more than 80,000 fewer cars on the road and helping Marin and Sonoma counties meet their green goals.

On an annual basis, it is on track to a 29% increase.

SMART is taking advantage of its opportunity to build on success with plans to increase trips and to offer shuttles at the Larkspur Landing terminal and the Marin Civic Center stop.

That success in building ridership and keeping its 2008 promise will be key to getting voters in Marin and Sonoma counties to support renewing the modest sales tax on which SMART relies.

Its last attempt, in 2020, was dogged by criticism that SMART had fallen short of its promises, both in progress in service reaching north of Santa Rosa, and even slower to build bike paths and low ridership.

That measure failed, falling far short of the two-thirds voter approval it needed to pass.

But SMART regrouped and has new leadership focused on building public support.

The service has its critics, mainly those who have maintained since before 2008 that the two counties don’t have enough population to financially support the train service.

SMART’s growing numbers are its best response, making it an important part of the two counties’ public transit system. Keeping fares at levels that keep the trains affordable and accessible is also important, both in attracting more riders and bringing home state and federal grants.

The challenges facing SMART are steep, but it is headed in the right direction and making steady progress.