11 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

CBS SF Bay Area, 3/18/20:

 

  SMART Train Expands Cancellations, 4 Weekday Trains Suspended In Coronavirus Response 

 

 

 

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit announced Tuesday that it has canceled four weekday trips after announcing Monday that all weekend service will be suspended as a response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

 

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[KevinKorell]

Novato, CA Patch, 3/5/20:

 

   Coronavirus: SMART Disinfecting Trains, Providing Sanitizer  

 

 

 

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District is taking steps to protect against the potential spread of the new coronavirus.

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

KCBS Radio, San Francisco, CA, 4/5/20:

 

  North Bay Commuter Rail System 'SMART' Makes Second Cutback in Two Weeks  

 

 

 

The North Bay commuter rail system, SMART, has made its second service cutback in two weeks time. Weekday service has been reduced by 50-percent.

 

 

Report including audio, here.

[KevinKorell]

Pacific Sun, San Rafael, CA, 5/6/20:

 

   SMART Board Will Receive Budget Report Today  

 

 

 

This afternoon, the board which controls the North Bay’s only commuter train service will hear a staff report on just how badly the transit agency’s finances have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

 

This is where the story is.

[KevinKorell]

Petaluma, CA Argus-Courier, 6/5/20:

 

   SMART cutting weekday service by one-third as part of $7 million in cost savings  

 

 

 

SMART will drop almost a third of its weekday train schedule when the rail agency resumes regular commuter service, part of more than $7 million in cuts to match lower revenues with rising costs projected in the next budget cycle starting in July.

 

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[KevinKorell]

Marin Independent Journal, 1/10/21:

 

   SMART looks to ultraviolet light as coronavirus blocker  

 

 

Some Bay Area transit providers are testing a new weapon against the coronavirus: ultraviolet light.

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

Mass Transit magazine, 1/26/21:

 

   SMART plans for future after coronavirus pandemic  

 

 

After a tumultuous 2020 — from a failed sales tax extension to the coronavirus crisis — SMART plans to use the next five months to strategize how to bring riders back and chart a course for the post-pandemic future. 

 

Here is that story.

[KevinKorell]

Editorial in Marin Independent-Journal, 2/3/21:

 

 

   Editorial: SMART must build trust if it to survive pandemic ridership dip    

 

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit train was hit with a double whammy in 2020.

 

After failing to win voter approval for a 30-year extension of its sales tax, the coronavirus pandemic hit and its widespread stay-at-home and “social distancing” orders took away its commuters at a time when it needed to build ridership.

 

Editorial

[KevinKorell]

North Bay Business Journal, 5/19/21:

 

 

    Starting Monday, SMART to add more daily trains for Sonoma, Marin commuters    

 

 

Starting Monday, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) plans to add back five trips to the commuter rail line’s weekday schedule after cutting the schedule during the coronavirus pandemic, the agency announced Wednesday.

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

Marin Independent-Journal, 9/3/21:

 

 

   SMART to restore full train service with $3M stimulus funds    

 

 

After running less than half of its regular commuter train trips in Marin and Sonoma counties for more than a year, SMART aims to restore full service next year after receiving $3 million in federal stimulus funds this month.

 

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