SMART receives $21 million for its extension to Windsor

Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 1:45pm

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District received $21 million in state transportation funds to construct the extension to Windsor. This grant, coupled with the proposed $40 million in funding from Regional Measure 3 (RM3), will allow SMART to complete the first of three northern Sonoma County extensions.

State Sen. Mike McGuire said, “The State couldn’t be more excited to make this latest investment in SMART, and to soon connect the residents of Windsor and northern Sonoma County with this fantastic service. We have been grateful to work with Chairwoman Fudge and the SMART Board on the proposal, and we are so appreciative to the Department of Transportation for their ongoing partnership.”

“This is a big day for SMART and for the Town of Windsor,” said SMART Board Chairwoman Debora Fudge. “We want to thank the California Secretary of Transportation and his staff, and our state legislators for funding this important connection for our north county residents. It is now essential that we all vote to approve Regional Measure 3 in the June election, which will fully fund the extension from the Sonoma County Airport Station to the heart of Windsor.”

RM3, which goes before voters on June 5, would increase tolls on seven state-owned bridges over a period of several years. It would generate an estimated $4.5 billion in funding over a 25-year period for public transportation, highway improvements, and bicycle and pedestrian pathways. Funding for SMART’s Windsor extension is part of that funding plan. The funding will allow SMART to move forward with the next phase of construction on the Windsor extension.

“This is an important step that moves us closer to completing our 70-mile vision, which includes expanding our SMART train service to Windsor, Healdsburg and Cloverdale,” said SMART Board Director Carol Russell. “This is a major milestone for all of our North Bay residents who have been waiting for a transportation option to northern Sonoma County.”

Since launching its passenger service in August, SMART has carried more than 465,000 passengers. SMART’s passenger train service currently serves a 43-mile corridor with stations in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Novato and San Rafael. Construction on the Larkspur extension is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.