Many of those who attended a San Rafael City Council meeting this week on Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit got a dose of reality — like it or not, officials said, work will soon begin on the Larkspur extension of the SMART train.

The informational session was held Wednesday to respond to questions raised at a Jan. 19 meeting regarding the train’s effect on traffic, train signals and road closures, among other concerns. No decisions were made.

The SMART plan has trains crossing busy Second and Third streets, then going through the Bettini Transit Center, which sees 9,000 passengers a day, to get to Larkspur. Residents fear trains crossing those streets will back up traffic not only downtown, but on nearby Highway 101 off- and on-ramps. They want to delay the Larkspur extension until a site for a new permanent transit center is found and funding available.

“Here is a dose of reality,” Mayor Gary Phillips said after a number of residents spoke, many urging a delay in extending the commuter rail service to Larkspur from downtown San Rafael.

The sought-after delay “is not going to happen,” Phillips said.

In February, the mayor and City Manager Jim Schutz sent a letter to the board requesting a delay, to no avail.

At the beginning of the meeting, City Attorney Rob Epstein told the group that SMART owns the right of way and the city has no power to enforce a delay.

“Basically, San Rafael is saying we should postpone going to Larkspur,” SMART General Manager Farhad Mansourian said earlier this year. “But we are already going out for construction bids. People voted for it to go to Larkspur. People have been paying taxes for it.”

Construction of the extension will start as soon as this summer, SMART officials announced in December 2015.

The room listened in a dead hush when Phillips spoke at the end of the meeting. Despite some lively exchanges during the public comment session, the spirit of the meeting was relatively upbeat.

Bill Guerin, San Rafael’s director of public works, answered a series of questions raised Jan. 19. Regarding parking, Guerin said about 30 parking spaces would be required. Northbound SMART riders originating in downtown San Rafael would be directed to meters on West Tamalpais Avenue, the Third and Lootens parking area and the A Street garage.

Regarding the Civic Center SMART station, “room is still available on the east side of the freeway for a dropoff location but the money will have to be found,” Guerin said.

The path between North San Pedro Road and the SMART station is expected to be built in late spring or summer, Guerin said.

The audience groaned when Guerin said construction is expected to close West Francisco Boulevard and Andersen Drive for four to six months, beginning in late 2017, though not simultaneously.

After the officials spoke, residents shared their thoughts.

“The transit center should be built and only then should SMART extend to Larkspur. That is the logical sequence,” said Richard Hall.

“SMART did a study, an (Environmental Impact Report),” said David Schonbrunn, president of the Transportation Solutions Defense and Education Fund, a nonprofit environmental organization created by transit activists.

“My impression was there were no impacts to downtown,” the San Rafael resident said.

“You have to look at the significant impacts you are inflicting on businesses,” said John Parulis of San Rafael.

Janet Shirley of San Rafael Meadows said she had heard Petaluma would get a quiet zone before San Rafael.

“Petaluma does not have it (quiet zones) coming April 19,” said Phillips, who is on the SMART board, after the public comment session ended. “We’re miles ahead of other cities.”

Epstein said, “The fact that the city lacks the authority to completely prevent the train from going to Larkspur does not mean the city has no leverage.”

Various negotiations with SMART and other agencies are underway, he said, with regard to issues including an at-grade crossing at Andersen Drive.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated since initial publication.