Effort afoot to derail SMART

The Sonoma to Marin commute rail system, passed by voters three years ago after a long political battle, continues to foster controversy.

Now, after funding woes have curtailed the scope of the 70-mile route to a more modest line between Santa Rosa and San Rafael, a new group is forming with the intention of possibly putting the sales tax measure back before voters.

"When we spend public money on a project, we believe the money should be spent to provide the maximum benefit for the maximum number of people," said Clay Mitchell of Windsor, a spokesman for Repeal SMART. "The way the project has developed, it is ineffectual."

When voters approved the quarter-cent sales tax in 2008 for SMART, they were promised a line running from Cloverdale to Larkspur.

However, with sales taxes depressed and the ability to sell constructions bonds constrained in a down economy, SMART has found itself short of money.

The rail agency still intends to build a Cloverdale-Larkspur line, but now can only raise enough in sales taxes, bonds and other local, state and federal funds for a line from Railroad Square in Santa Rosa to downtown San Rafael at an estimated cost of $382 million.

SMART plans to receive construction bids and sell bonds within the next two months.

But in a letter to the SMART board, opponents are asking that bonds not be sold nor contracts signed until another election is held.

"We are three years down the road, and I think that if they were to put the measure back on the ballot, the public would require a tighter plan. I don't think people would see the benefit," Mitchell said.

Repeal SMART has filed papers to organize as a committee and begin fund-raising. It has retained attorney Barry Fadem of Lafayette, who specializes in initiatives.

Fadem said it has not been decided whether to seek an initiative. To qualify for the ballot, it would require the signatures of 39,650 registered voters in the SMART district, which encompasses both Sonoma and Marin counties.