A high-stakes battle over the future of the SMART train is heading to the bookstore and the ballot box.
Per the Press Democrat, a new book titled The Great Train Heist, underwritten by the wealthy Gallaher family—longtime critics of the rail system—was released this month. The 182-page critique calls SMART a “taxpayer ripoff” and a “failed experiment,” urging voters to reject a sales tax extension set for the June 2nd ballot.
Supporters of the train, however, are calling the book a “Hail Mary pass” filled with outdated information. SMART officials point to record-breaking ridership—now double what it was in 2020—and a successful expansion to Windsor as proof the system is thriving.
Unlike previous elections, the upcoming June measure needs only a simple majority to pass, rather than two-thirds. If approved, it would secure the quarter-cent sales tax that provides half of the agency’s annual revenue.