The Press Democrat    July 18, 2002

ASSEMBLYMAN TO DISCUSS RAIL BILL

BYLINE:    Spencer Soper

A proposed commuter rail system linking Sonoma and Marin counties will be the subject of a public meeting held by Assemblyman Joe Nation in San Rafael on Friday.

Officials in both counties want to create a 68-mile passenger train system from Cloverdale to San Rafael by 2007 to help relieve congestion on Highway 101. The trains would run on existing tracks parallel to the freeway.

A new sales tax is needed to pay for the system, and officials expect to put one on the ballot in 2004.

Nation, D-San Rafael, has proposed legislation that would create a new Sonoma-Marin rail district, which commuter train backers say would make it easier to pass a sales tax. Nation will give an update on his bill, which goes to the Senate next month. The meeting also will include a presentation from Lillian Hames, project director for the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit Commission.

The meeting is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Marin County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael.