State Allots $30M For SMART Windsor, Healdsburg Extensions

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District announced that on Wednesday, the California Transportation Commission awarded SMART $30 million in Senate Bill 1 Solutions for Congested Corridors funds toward completing the rail system and bicycle/pedestrian pathway extension to Windsor.

With this award of SCCP funds, SMART can not only complete the Windsor extension but begin engineering and construction of critical segments of the Healdsburg extension, the agency said Thursday in a news release.

"This is great news for the Town of Windsor and for Healdsburg and Cloverdale," said Windsor Councilmember and SMART Board member Debora Fudge. "With these funds, SMART is taking another big step toward accomplishing its goal of reaching Windsor, Healdsburg, and Cloverdale. SMART's rail and pathway system is an investment in quality of life for our community and in sustainable transportation for generations to come. I want to thank the Commission and the State for recognizing the importance of funding local transportation solutions."

The extension to Windsor is already 30 percent constructed and is a necessary step in restoring passenger rail and freight service to northern Sonoma County. Ridership models project the Windsor station will yield some of SMART’s highest ridership.

Funding SMART Northern Extensions

The current cost estimate to complete extensions to Windsor and Healdsburg is $230.5 million, with the extension to Windsor estimated at $70 million and the Healdsburg extension at $160.5 million.

Construction for the extension to Windsor is now fully funded and construction crews are expected to begin work in late 2023, SMART officials said Thursday.

The extension to Healdsburg is partially funded, with $82.2 million still needed to complete the project. Preliminary plans are to construct the rail and pathway segment from Front Street to Bailhache Avenue in Healdsburg, including the replacement of the bridge spanning the Russian River.

"Passenger rail service is a vital part of the North Bay’s economy and expanding the SMART railway northward will bring economic opportunities by strengthening our housing, business, and community infrastructure and creating hundreds of construction jobs," SMART officials said.

Additional Facilities Funded For Construction

SMART will soon begin construction of a new station serving North Petaluma and 12 additional miles of multi-use pathway. The Petaluma North station is slated to be completed in early 2025.

Extensions to Windsor, Healdsburg and Cloverdale include extending the bicycle and pedestri­an pathway connecting people to SMART passenger services for first- and last-mile transportation choices. When completed, the bicycle and pedestrian pathway — which is part of the Great Redwood Trail system —will connect communities from Marin to Humboldt County.