Thumbs up: Free rides for SMART’s first anniversary

Thumbs up for SMART, which is marking its first year of service by offering free rides throughout this weekend.|
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Thumbs up for SMART, which is marking its inaugural year of service by offering free rides throughout this weekend. The first trains rolled on the 43-mile route between Santa Rosa and San Rafael on Aug. 25. Since then, nearly 700,000 people have gotten aboard. Ridership hasn't met projections, but that doesn't mean SMART lacks an enthusiastic core of passengers. Revenue from fares is exceeding the $68,000 a week needed to make the agency's budget, according to SMART. And SMART needed to add cars to meet demand during commute-hour runs.

SMART expects to finish extensions to Larkspur in 2019, where riders will be within walking distance of the ferry terminal, and to Windsor in 2021. SMART will host a celebration of its initial year of service on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m., at the Hamilton station in Novato. Hop on board. The ride is free.

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