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12/19/2023
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District's east-west rail corridor (SMART), which connects Novato to Suisun City, California, has been designated for inclusion in the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program.
As part of the program, the California Department of Transportation will receive and administer $500,000 in initial Corridor ID funds to study passenger-rail expansion in the region, SMART officials said in a news release.
"The federal designation is a game-changer. Up until now, this east-west rail corridor that connects Marin, Sonoma and Solano Counties hadn’t been eligible for federal passenger-rail funding,” said Senate President Designee Mike McGuire. "Now, SMART will be able to tap these federal and state funds to help move the commuter service east."
By incorporating the SMART-owned corridor into the FRA program, the east-west track gains national recognition, enabling the California Department of Transportation to seek grants that could advance intercity passenger-rail initiatives, SMART officials said. The designation reflects federal interest and dedication to enhancing east-west passenger service, they added.