California awards SMART $81M for passenger-rail expansion

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District has obtained an $81 million grant award from the state of California to extend passenger-rail service to communities in northern Sonoma County.

The funding comes from the Solutions for Congested Corridors (SCCP) and Local Partnership Competitive (LPPC) grant programs, and is being matched by $187.7 million in other secured federal, state, regional and local funds, according to a SMART press release.

In addition to the extension funds, the SCCP award includes an additional $6 million to acquire a zero-emission locomotive for the SMART railroad. With that award, SMART will bring environmentally friendly and modern rail service and pathway from the newly opened Windsor Station north through Healdsburg to the northern Healdsburg city limits, SMART officials said.

“Northern Sonoma County is an important part of the Bay Area and extending our rail and pathway to Healdsburg and the Alexander Valley will connect people to jobs and grow regional-tourism-supported industries," said SMART Chair Chris Coursey on June 6. "We look forward to delivering this critical project by 2028, extending on the huge success of our Windsor Station opening just a week ago.”