SMART Windsor Extension Gets $21M Boost

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District announced this week that it has 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, will allow SMART to complete the first of three northern Sonoma County extensions, SMART officials said in a news release Thursday.

"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."

RM3 goes before voters on June 5 and would increase tolls on seven state-owned bridges over a period of several years. Proponents say 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 and will allow the district to move forward with the next phase of construction, SMART officials say.

"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," said Debora Fudge, SMART Board chairwoman.

In the meantime, securing this state grant funding "is a big day for SMART and for the Town of Windsor," Fudge said. "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."

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.”

Voters in Marin and Sonoma counties approved a quarter-cent sales tax in 2008 for the 72-mile passenger train service between Cloverdale and Larkspur. Funding shortfalls during the recession starting in 2008 led SMART to build the rail service and bike-and-pedestrian paths in segments.

SMART launched passenger service in August along a 43-mile corridor with stations in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Novato and San Rafael.

SMART received a $22.5 million grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation earlier this month which will help extend the train service 2.1 miles from San Rafael to Golden Gate Transit's Larkspur Ferry Terminal. Construction of the Larkspur extension is expected to be completed in 2019.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com