SMART train begins service in North Bay with a ceremony and speeches

Thundreds of people celebrated the official opening of the first passenger rail service in the North Bay since 1958 with a pomp-filled event at Santa Rosa’s downtown rail station full of congratulatory speeches by local politicians, live music, and free rides for the public.

The event preceded the 1 p.m. initiation of service along the initial 43-mile segment of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system, a moment billed by numerous speakers as a historic accomplishment.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, all aboard the SMART train!” boomed Sen. Mike McGuire from in front of one of the sleek green trains at Railroad Square station.

He and other state and local officials were met with loud applause as they praised those who made the SMART service possible for their perseverance and the taxpayers of Marin and Sonoma counties who are funding the endeavour for their vision.

“Congratulations to all of you who have paid for their train. Enjoy it,” said Steve Heminger, executive direction of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

The debut of the line between Santa Rosa and San Rafael has been nearly 15 years in the making. The Legislature created SMART in 2002 and Marin and Sonoma county voters in 2008 approved a quarter-cent sales tax to subsidize the rail service. SMART began restoring the moth-balled Northwestern Pacific rail line in 2012.

The $600 million transit system will operate 14 trains carrying a projected 3,000 people on weekdays.

All rides Friday will be free, and fares will be half price through Labor Day on Sept. 4.

An extended 70-mile route from Cloverdale to Larkspur is dependent on additional funding from state and regional sources, which various officials predicted would happen someday.

The transit agency led by general manager Farhad Mansourian has a $30 million budget and 180 employees. Many speakers praised Mansourian for his leadership and determination.

“They said we are the little engine that could,” Mansourian told the crowd in his address. “No. We are the little engine that did!”

The start of service, originally set for 2014, was delayed by a severe recession that curtailed tax revenue and several other setbacks, including repair of the agency’s new fleet of engines due to a faulty crankshaft design.

Dennis Rosatti, the former executive director of Sonoma County Conservation Action, said it was gratifying to see a day finally arrive that he and others had worked toward for so long.

“I’ve knocked on tens of thousands of doors for this personally,” Rosatti said, recalling the political campaigns - the one in 2006 that failed and in 2008 that succeeded - to which his group gave grassroots support.

The difference between the two ballot measures, Rosatti said, was the spike in gas prices to $4 per gallon, the growing concern about climate change, and the congestion on Highway 101.

“We had a public that was just clamoring for relief on the highways,” Rosatti said.

The event was complete with a Mariachi band, orange-green-and-white and white banners, and the ceremonial cutting of a green ribbon shortly before the first train ride of the day.

The celebratory atmosphere even spilled out into the neighboring historic Railroad Square shopping area, which has high hopes the service will provide an economic boom for the area.

“Welcome to the neighborhood, SMART Train”, read a sign with balloons outside the Legendary Beads shop.