SMART lands funds to extend service; board OKs new station for Sonoma County Airport

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has approved $16.7 million in funds to extend passenger-rail service to the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit's (SMART) operations and maintenance facility near the Sonoma County Airport in California. In a related move, SMART's board approved the addition of a new rail station at the airport.

The funding is in addition to the MTC's allocation of $750,000 earlier this year to design the track improvements to the operations and maintenance facility. The $16.7 million will pay for the construction improvements necessary to establish the new rail station,  SMART officials said in a press release.

The project's total is $29 million, including track reconstruction, the station's completion, the federally required systems for passenger rail service to the new station and funding previously approved for an additional two-car train set.

SMART is providing $700,000 in Measure Q funds as a local match.

Fifty percent of design for the track reconstruction to the operations and maintenance facility has been completed, including cost estimates for civil and track construction, bridge rehabilitation and replacement, systems construction and environmental permits.

"The companies and employees in this area will prosper with added rail service, and the expanded airport will attract new jobs and increase tourism," said SMART Director Debora Fudge. "With the rail extension and a station at the airport, we are now halfway to Windsor and continue our progress to get the full system built."

The SMART train and pathway project is currently under construction and will provide a new regional transportation backbone with improved transit options for all North Bay residents.