In the 1980s, the VTA got money to build a light rail network for San Jose. Unfortunately, suburban land use and questionable, business-park-oriented routes make it among the worst performing light rail networks in the US.
What if instead, I contemplated, Marin’s own Golden Gate Transit received funding to revive the old Northwestern Pacific Interurban lines?
By the ’80s, many of the rights of way were still there, just neglected. The rest had been transformed into boulevards, easy to add trams to. Lay some tracks, rebuild a tunnel or two, add some overhead electrification (no third rail this time!), and we have the system rebuilt.
As a bonus, I threw in the Tiburon branch; though disused by the old interurbans, it’s extra direct, especially from San Rafael.
I also reactivated the NWP’s old intercity rail line (see SMART) past Cloverdale to Willits; Mendocino county cries out for rail! Or maybe not idk what the mood in Mendocino county is but you understand. Didn’t feel right to not include it.
Would this have higher ridership than VTA light rail? It services a less densely populated area, but the towns are old, with actual downtowns. And, the line would service commuters heading into San Francisco, funnelling them to the ferries.
I think this system could match NWP’s ridership highs of 20k/day (very impressive at the time, considering Marin had a population of like 40k).
Just imagine how much more delightful Sausalito’s Broadway would be as a tramway! Could even use old-timey rolling stock (a la Market Street Railway) for added tourist value.
A fun thought to contemplate :D