Trains, Planes and Automobiles Update at Wake Up Santa Rosa

Left to right: David Rabbitt (2nd District Supervisor, Sonoma County), Bill Gamlen, (Chief Engineer of Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit [SMART]) and Jon Stout (Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport Manager) answer attendees’ questions at last week’s Wake Up Santa Rosa. (photo by Will Bucquoy / view more photos)

Last week’s Wake Up Santa Rosa provided an update on transportation in Sonoma County with presentations from Supervisor David Rabbitt on city and county roads and highways, Jon Stout on the Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport, and Bill Gamlen on progress with the SMART train. Following the presentations, attendees participated in a Q&A session to delve deeper into specific transportation issues.

On the topic of roads and highways, Supervisor David Rabbitt addressed the gas-tax-based funding challenges for Sonoma County’s nearly 1,400 miles of roads, the Board of Supervisors’ commitment to improvements, and the difference Measure A (on the June ballot) could make toward improving the condition of both city and county roads.

Jon Stout spoke about the Sonoma County Airport’s recent upgrades, service expansions to current destinations, progress on United Airlines adding service to the major hub of Denver, and future projects. Stout also asked businesses that have corporate contracts and frequent-flyer individuals to contact the airlines about more flights and connections.

Following the previous day’s news of the first SMART train arriving in Sonoma County, Bill Gamlen gave a Phase One progress update that included safety controls, large projects to be completed, and signaling a 2016 opening date for passenger service. Gamlen also expressed optimism for Phase Two expansion funding that will extend SMART’s route south to Larkspur Ferry and north through Windsor and Healdsburg and up to Cloverdale.