Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District

The agenda for the Board of Directors meeting included several key financial and contractual items pending for the start of Fiscal Year 2017-18. Discussions focused on authorizing the General Manager to execute nine contract amendments totaling $595,116. Significant contract actions included approving an amendment to the LTK Engineering Services Contract for $711,500, authorizing an agreement with Maze & Associates for independent year-end audit services ($221,566), and approving a contract amendment with RailPros, Inc. for construction support ($369,342). A major action item was the proposed award of Contract CV-DB-16-001 to Stacy and Witbeck/Herzog, Joint Venture, for the Larkspur Extension Project construction, valued at $36,300,000, including authorizing a contingency fund of up to $1,815,000 and a Limited Notice-to-Proceed pending FTA funding execution. The Board was also scheduled to approve and adopt the Fiscal Year 2016-17 Year-End Financial Report and the Proposed Preliminary Fiscal Year 2017-18 Budget.

This strategic plan outlines the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District's direction for the next five years, aiming to be a leader in sustainable mobility and enhance regional connectivity. The plan is built upon four core pillars: increasing ridership, ensuring long-term sustainability of freight operations, designing and maintaining planned pathways while enhancing user experience, and completing system extensions to Cloverdale and pursuing development of an East/West alignment. It seeks to provide safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible transportation options, promoting integrated mobility solutions, sustainable growth, and an enhanced quality of life for the community.

Key agenda items included authorizing the Chair and General Manager to execute funding-related agreements with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. The Board was set to authorize SMART to hold a Community Celebration in August 2018 and offer free service to mark its first year of service. Other authorizations sought included executing a contract with Netwoven, Inc. for Microsoft SharePoint Upgrades and Support Services, procuring used vehicles (a Hyrail Rotary Dump Truck and a Lowrailer), and authorizing major repair work for Diesel Multiple Unit 110, including an additional expenditure. The agenda also covered executing a funding agreement with Sonoma County Transit for Route 56 improvements, approving a Change Order to complete the Novato Downtown Station, and amending SMART's lease agreement for administrative functions. Discussions were planned regarding Senate Bill 1029 and a Closed Session to discuss real estate property negotiations concerning the RR Sq. property in Santa Rosa.

The Marin-Sonoma Coordinated Transit Service Plan (MASCOTS) is designed to improve transit service efficiency, effectiveness, and legibility along the Highway 101 corridor for existing and future customers. The plan addresses the need to re-evaluate the regional service structure, adapting to changes in travel patterns since the introduction of SMART service and the impact of the pandemic. Key focus areas include identifying successful regional markets, assessing current service against equity priorities, and determining the optimal configuration of regional rail, bus, ferry, commuter, and local services. The process involves understanding current conditions, developing solutions, and documenting the impacts of various alternatives, culminating in a sub-regional strategic operations plan to guide future service planning, encompassing considerations of costs, facilities, and funding.

Key discussion topics included public comments and board agenda items. Agenda items covered the acceptance of December 2022 monthly ridership data, the continuation of emergency contract No. FR-ER-22-001 for Timber Trestle Bridge repairs, and approval for One Bay Area Grants (OBAG 3) applications related to the Great Redwood Trail pathways. Further items authorized the General Manager to execute a contract with The Routing Company for a Microtransit Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. The Board also addressed the purchase of five parcels in downtown Petaluma from Basin Street Properties, including authorizing the necessary resolutions for execution and CEQA exemption. A significant portion of the document details public comments regarding safety concerns and inadequate emergency communication during service disruptions caused by Highway 37 flooding on January 16, 2023.