SMART DEIR final Sierra Club comment letter 2006-01 -17

Sierra Club Marin Group P.O Box 3058, San Rafael, CA 94912 http://sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org/marin/ Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Attn: Lillian Hames 4040 Civic Center Drive Suite 200 San Rafael, CA 94903 January 17, 2006 Re: Comments regarding SMART DEIR Dear Chairman Jehn and SMART Directors, The Sierra Club Marin Group is requesting that the following comments, questions and concerns be responded to in the Final Environmental Impact report for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Project (SMART). The current DEIR is inadequate. Some of the information within the document is also inaccurate. We believe that the report requires additional analysis to fully understand the comprehensive environmental impacts related to the implementation and the operation of passenger rail service on the existing Northwestern Pacific railroad right-of- way prior to allowing the voters of Marin and Sonoma vote on the proposed SMART project. Project Description 1. Page 2-13, Rail Service: Station Average Dwell (wait) time at each station is planned to be 30 seconds. Passengers have only 30 seconds to get on and off trains at certain stations. How much time does it take a handicap person to safely get on or off a DMU? Is 30 seconds adequate? How much time does it take a passenger with a bicycle to safely get on or off a DMU, along with other passengers as well as secure their bike in a bike rack prior to the train moving? Is ...