SMART To Stop Service For 1 Weekend To Test For New Petaluma Station

NORTH BAY, CA — SMART will temporarily suspend passenger service the weekend of Dec. 14–15 to allow for mandatory system tests in preparation for the opening of the new SMART Petaluma North station, which is expected at the end of this year.

The entire SMART rail line serving Marin and Sonoma counties and all SMART Connect shuttles will be out of service Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15.

"We regret any inconvenience this closure may cause," SMART officials said Monday. "After careful consideration, we determined that implementing bus bridges would not reliably serve our riders due to lengthy and unpredictable travel times. Temporarily suspending service, with advance notice to riders, is the most efficient and least disruptive approach, allowing us to complete the necessary testing swiftly while minimizing overall service impact."

Planning For Alternate Transportation

SMART suggested using smartphone applications such as the Transit app, Google Maps, or Apple Maps to plan a trip using alternate transit routes. Golden Gate Transit offers bus service connecting Sonoma and Marin counties to San Francisco. Passengers who need assistance with trip planning can also contact SMART customer service agents between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays at 707-794-3330 or via email at customerservice@sonomamarintrain.org.

Train Horns During System Testing

Community members in the Petaluma and Penngrove areas may hear SMART intermittently using its horns and bells during the testing Dec. 14-15. Despite Quiet Zone ordinances restricting train horns, the Federal Railroad Administration requires using horns and bells when testing rail systems. SMART said it will work to minimize noise disruptions while maintaining safety as a top priority for everyone in the area.

Todd Road Temporary Closure

During the temporary system closure, SMART will improve the rail crossing at Todd Road in Santa Rosa. To do so and resurface the roadway, a section of Todd Road will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, until 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. A detour will be in place from Standish Avenue to West Robles Avenue to Moorland Avenue.

Detour Map