FRA OKs start of SMART commuter-rail service

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has granted the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District permission to begin commuter-rail service on Aug. 25.

SMART's initial 43-mile route includes 10 stations between the Sonoma County Airport and downtown San Rafael, California. Service will be free on opening day.

"We are proud to say that we are ready to roll," said SMART Chairwoman Debora Fudge. "Successfully opening a new transit system is a major accomplishment — and we will remember this day for generations to come."

The opening comes after years of work from SMART, its contractors and consultants, and the FRA, Fudge added.

Plans are underway to expand the route to Larkspur, California, by 2019. The line also will extend to Windsor, Healdsburg and Cloverdale, California. The full project is slated to run 70 miles along the Sonoma-Marin corridor.

SMART earlier this summer provided "preview" service on the system for locals.