Politics & Government

SMART's Design Confronts Parking Problems

The design for the Marin Civic Center and downtown San Rafael SMART stations leaves many concerned about parking., while the downtown station will force Whistlestop to relocate.

As the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) agency prepares for construction of a downtown San Rafael station, Whistlestop, the 57-year-old senior center on Tamalpais Ave., will have to relocate due to lack of parking.

The downtown San Rafael station will include a two-platform design with the southbound platform about eight feet from Tamalpais Avenue, leaving no space for street parking, which is essential for Whistlestop clientele.

“We spent three years working with SMART and we’ve had to reach the reality that it’s not possible to stay at this location,” Whistlestop CEO Joe O’Hehir said.

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Whistlestop, known for providing food programs and other services to seniors with disabilities, has been at 930 Tamalpais Ave. for 40 years. It serves approximately 5,000 people each year with nearly a third of them traveling by car, according to O’Hehir. The center is also located close to the transit center and bus terminal.

“We’ll be keeping all those parameters in mind when looking for a new place,” O’Hehir said.

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In order to raise enough money to move to another location, O’Hehir hopes that SMART will buy Whistlestop during construction of the new station. SMART Rail Planning Manager John Nemeth said that could be a possibility, but he hasn’t yet presented the idea to the SMART Board.

The downtown San Rafael location will become a resting station for all SMART trains during the day. Trains will stay at this station for a half hour before leaving, and there will always be a train at the station until evening, according to Nemeth. A two-track, two-platform design is needed to accommodate this. 

Since Larkspur was  last November due to a budget shortfall, the downtown San Rafael station is the best alternative for trains to park for longer periods during the day, Nemeth said.

Concerns about parking are also on the minds of residents near Merrydale Road, close to where the Marin Civic Center station will be built. SMART is currently looking for more options to provide parking for commuters, since the popularity of the local Farmers’ Market uses the space on weekends.

Gregory Andrew lives on Las Galinas Avenue, and worries that drivers will park in his neighborhood rather than walking the distance from the other side of the freeway.

The station will be constructed under the Highway 101 overpass. Andrew said that drivers could park on Merrydale and walk to the station from the western side of the freeway, which would be closer than a parking lot near the Marin Civic Center.

SMART officials will hold a public workshop on Feb. 24, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at San Rafael City Hall to familiarize residents with the design. Nemeth said construction for the new stations could begin by the end of 2011.


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