Unity is key to transportation funding

Back in May, North Bay transportation officials were in a state of discordance that threatened funding for two key infrastructure projects. One month later, the leaders building a commuter rail system and widening Highway 101 were in perfect harmony, and the funding prospect is back on the table. For that, they deserve to be commended.

The crux of the issue was $18.2 million in federal transportation money that the state is tasked with dispersing. The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit agency originally petitioned for $12 million of those funds to remake the San Rafael transit center. Meanwhile, the Sonoma County Transportation Authority said the bulk of the money should go toward widening Highway 101 south of Petaluma.

Supervisor David Rabbitt, who sits on the board of both SMART and the SCTA, brought the parties to the table. He thought - and rightly so - that the highway project and the 100,000 drivers per day that it serves, was a higher priority than the transit project, which serves 9,000 daily commuters.

Fortunately, all parties agreed to move forward with a unified proposal, which would award $15 million to complete the highway project from the Petaluma River to the county line, and $3.2 million to the SMART project.

We should see the results of this strategy later this year. The State Transportation Agency is expected to decide on the funding in September, and with all parties on the same page, the chances are much higher that everyone will benefit.