Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) is a
commuter rail
Commuter rail or suburban rail is a Passenger train, passenger rail service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting Commuting, commuters to a Central business district, central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter town ...
service and
bicycle-pedestrian pathway project in
Sonoma and
Marin counties of the U.S. state of
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
. When completed, the entire system will serve a corridor between
Cloverdale in northern Sonoma County and
Larkspur Landing in Marin County. In , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of .
The first phase of the system, a segment between Northern
Santa Rosa and downtown
San Rafael, opened to public preview and excursion services (as far south as Marin County Civic Center) on June 29, 2017. Regular service began on August 25, 2017, after the
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966. The purpose of the FRA is to promulgate and enforce railroa ...
(FRA) gave the final approval for the
positive train control
Positive train control (PTC) is a family of automatic train protection systems deployed in the United States. Most of the United States' national rail network mileage has a form of PTC. These systems are generally designed to check that trains a ...
(PTC) system.
The southern of the line was completed to Larkspur with service commencing on December 14, 2019.
History
Background and formation
The last passenger rail service along the
Northwestern Pacific Railroad south of Willits was discontinued in 1958 as automobile travel along U.S. Route 101 in California increased in popularity.
The SMART District was established by state legislation in 2002.
Previously disused station buildings were repaired in anticipation of reestablished rail service in Healdsburg and Windsor, and Cloverdale's depot was constructed in 1998.
Environmental impact report
Mitigation of environmental impacts was studied and
summarized in a report issued in June 2006. The recommended remedies, which were certified without challenge, included silencing of some train horns in quiet zones and replacement of certain wetland ditches.
On October 10, 2013, SMART announced that it had obtained more than of an area in
Novato known as the “Mira Monte Marina.” The purpose of this purchase is to restore the area and preserve tidal wetlands and habitat, which is all a part of SMART's environmental mitigation program. According to SMART General Manager Farhad Mansourian, “This will not only address the of project impacts that were determined through the environmental review process for the next stage of construction, but ensures a local source for potential future mitigation needs for the rail and pathway project.”
Funding
The project is funded by federal, state, regional and local allocations including bridge tolls, dedicated sales tax revenues, and fares. The capital cost of track rehabilitation for the full 70-mile line, signals, railcars, etc. was estimated to be about $450 million in 2008 ($ adjusted for inflation). By 2019, development of the line from Airport Boulevard in Santa Rosa to the San Rafael Transit Center totaled $448 million and the estimated cost to complete the legislated system had increased to $944 million.
In November 2006, Measure R, a proposal for funding though an increase in sales taxes, received a combined 65.3% "yes" vote in the two-county District, with 70.1% in favor in Sonoma County and 57.5% in favor in Marin County. Because it lacked the 2/3 supermajority needed for passage, that measure failed.
Measure Q, similar to Measure R, was approved on November 4, 2008. It received a combined vote of 69.5% in the two counties (73.5% approval in Sonoma County and 62.6% in Marin County). It provides funding for the project through a quarter-cent sales tax in both counties set to expire in 2029.
This funding was initially thought sufficient to bring the line to completion by 2014. However, the
Great Recession
The Great Recession was a period of market decline in economies around the world that occurred from late 2007 to mid-2009. reduced the tax base,
resulting in a plan to build the project in phases. The tax was expected to generate $890 million over its lifetime; the first decade brought in $289 million, well short of estimates.
In March 2020, SMART went back to the voters with Measure I to extend the sales tax, not scheduled to expire until 2029, for an additional thirty years; the measure ultimately failed.
Bond issues
The SMART Board authorized the sale of bonds in late 2011; proceeds were placed into an escrow account until the effort to repeal the sales tax was resolved.
In May 2012, SMART issued nearly $200 million in bonds to fund construction. The bonds will be paid off with the Measure Q quarter-cent sales tax revenue.
Initial operating segment track rehabilitation
In January 2012, SMART completed final negotiations to start rebuilding the Initial Operating Segment (IOS) between Airport Blvd
Santa Rosa and the Civic Center Station in
San Rafael at a cost less than originally budgeted. The segment was completed jointly by
Stacy & Witbeck and Herzog Contracting Corp. In 2012, SMART announced that it was adding two stations to the Initial Operation Segment: in
north Santa Rosa, near Coddingtown, and in
Novato at Atherton Avenue.
The
Puerto Suello Hill Tunnel in San Rafael was rehabilitated for service
and the 111-year old fixed span Haystack Bridge was replaced with a newer movable
bascule bridge
A bascule bridge (also referred to as a drawbridge or a lifting bridge) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or leaf, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- o ...
. Concrete ties were installed along the line to facilitate running up to and several spur lines were removed to adhere to
federal safety standards. Businesses may connect a switch and spur to the line by purchasing the equipment for about $300,000.
The first phase of construction does not include the complete parallel pedestrian and bicycle path.
Delayed start of service
Scheduled passenger service, already delayed from an originally estimated 2014, had long been expected for late 2016.
This resulted from lack of tax revenues due to the economic downturn, which also led to the project opening in phases.
As late 2016 approached, the agency further delayed opening the IOS between Northern
Santa Rosa and Downtown
San Rafael until "late spring 2017."
A crankshaft failure on a diesel engine used in the near-identical Nippon Sharyo diesel multiple unit trains operating in Toronto necessitated all of SMART's cars to be recalled for crank replacements, according to SMART management.
The agency additionally had been experiencing problems with warning systems at some grade crossings, and had not fully completed its approval process with the
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966. The purpose of the FRA is to promulgate and enforce railroa ...
.
The
2017 California floods caused damage to the
Puerto Suello Hill Tunnel, further delaying testing of the line.
Preview service and excursion trips timed with the Marin County Fair began on June 29, 2017, with free fares as far south as Marin Civic Center. Full service commenced on August 25, 2017.
Larkspur segment

The cost to San Rafael of the Andersen Drive crossing of the Larkspur to San Rafael segment is significant. The street was extended by San Rafael in the mid-1990s to cross the tracks on a "temporary road". In July 1997, the
California Public Utilities Commission
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC or PUC) is a regulatory agency that regulates privately owned public utilities in the state of California, including electric power, telecommunications, natural gas and water companies. In addition ...
informed the city that by the time SMART planned to operate on the section, the city had to build and pay for restoring the crossing. The estimated cost for that was $6 million in 2012.
In 2010, the agency received a federal earmark of $2.5 million for technical, environmental and engineering design on the segment. Later in 2010, the revamped California Park Tunnel — wide, tall, and long — was opened to pedestrian traffic. The revamping was done at a cost of $28 million, paid equally by Marin County and SMART. The tunnel is used both for the rail right of way between Larkspur and San Rafael and by bicycles and pedestrians.
In May 2013, the SMART board approved a resolution designating the San Rafael to Larkspur link as its "preferred alternative". The agency submitted a letter to the
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transportation systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administration ...
, and on September 24, 2013, SMART was accepted into its "Small Starts" program.
The FY2016 Federal Budget included the funds to construct the Larkspur Extension under the Small Starts Program. Construction contracts were awarded to a joint venture of
Stacy and Witbeck and
Herzog Contracting Corporation at a cost of $36.3 million,
and work commenced by late 2017 with an expected opening of late 2019. In April 2018, SMART was awarded a $22.5 million federal grant for the extension. Final costs for the extension are estimated to total $55.4 million.
Train control and crossing system testing along the extension began in August 2019 and was completed by the end of October, whereupon driver training began.
Revenue service commenced on December 14, 2019.
Construction of the Novato Downtown station began significantly after work began on the initial operating segment. It was partially constructed by the system's opening, but the station opened with the Larkspur extension.
2019 service disruptions
Service was cancelled on October 28 and 29, 2019, due to
preemptive power shutoffs affecting crossings throughout the system. Partial service as far north as Downtown Santa Rosa was established on October 30, and the following day full service was restored with
free rides offered through November 6 to give transportation options to those affected by the
Kincade Fire. According to Farhad Mansourian, the service disruptions had not impacted testing of the Larkspur extension and Downtown Novato station.
Service gaps existed during the weekends of November 2019 between Petaluma to Novato–Hamilton as testing for the Downtown Novato station commenced. A bus bridge was provided from both stations with a transfer at San Marin.
2020–22 operational changes
SMART initiated a schedule with 8 weekday round trips and no weekend service amid the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.
The agency planned to only resume 13 round trips on weekdays in an effort to lower costs with reduced ridership and an uncertain tax base.
In May 2021, service increased to 13 weekday round trips and 6 Saturday round trips. In September 2021, after receiving $3.2 million in
federal stimulus funds, SMART indicated it would restore pre-pandemic schedules in 2022.
In May 2020, the agency acquired control of freight operations along the line from the
Northwestern Pacific Railroad. The $4 million purchase of rolling stock, track rights, and other properties was funded by the state. The agency took ownership of freight operations and of trackage north of Healdsburg in July 2021. Sunday service resumed on May 1, 2022.
North of Santa Rosa
By 2018, the extension was expected to cost $55 million: $20 million from
Road Repair and Accountability Act
A road is a thoroughfare used primarily for movement of traffic. Roads differ from streets, whose primary use is local access. They also differ from stroads, which combine the features of streets and roads. Most modern roads are paved.
The w ...
funds, $30 million in
Regional Measure 3 funds, and a $5 million federal grant. By November 2019, the cost estimate had increased to $65 million with construction starting in 2020.
The route north of Santa Rosa to Cloverdale was intended to open with the initial segment, but lack of funding delayed this segment. By May 2019, the estimated cost to complete the system to Cloverdale and Healdsburg was $364 million.
A letter to the city of Healdsburg in 2020 estimated the cost of reconstructing the Russian River bridge, building a new station, and rehabilitating the line at $32 million. The 2018 California State Rail Plan based its projections on service to
Cloverdale station by 2027.
Work on the extension to Windsor, funded by a bridge toll, was temporarily suspended in 2021. The lawsuit was dismissed in January 2023, freeing up $40 million for SMART, and the agency received a $34 million state grant in February. At that time, SMART intended to wait until June 2023 to determine whether it would have sufficient funding to combine a further extension to Healdsburg with the completion of the Windsor extension. If the full $113 million in additional grants is received, Windsor service would begin in 2025 or 2026, and Healdsburg service by 2027. On July 5, 2023, a grant was awarded by the
California Transportation Commission, funded by the
Road Repair and Accountability Act
A road is a thoroughfare used primarily for movement of traffic. Roads differ from streets, whose primary use is local access. They also differ from stroads, which combine the features of streets and roads. Most modern roads are paved.
The w ...
also known as SB1. This grant awards SMART $30 million to fund extensions to Windsor and Healdsburg. The extension to Healdsburg includes trackage beyond the station, running an additional north to the city limits. This will be the first work to complete the initial line to Cloverdale.
Windsor station opened on May 31, 2025.
Proposed expansion
Several services have been envisioned to expand the system. Additional
infill station
An infill station (sometimes in-fill station) is a train station built on an existing passenger rail, rapid transit, or light rail line to address demand in a location between existing stations. Such stations take advantage of existing train ser ...
s serving Santa Rosa or
Fulton may be added in the future.
In 2019, SMART released a study on the possibility of extending service along SMART (formerly NWP) owned and operated freight tracks between Ignacio and
Schellville (near
Sonoma), into
Napa or
Solano counties. Funding for the study was provided by the state in response to chronic flooding along the
State Route 37 corridor. Not being member counties of the Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit District, a new funding mechanism would have to be established before service commenced.
This line would allow the train to connect with the passenger ferry in
Vallejo or the
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
station in
Suisun City. , planners expect this rail link to be reactivated for service after 2040,
and the 2019 study expected construction time between four and six years. Estimated at $1 billion, work on this link would not begin until after the initial system was operational.
Also proposed is extending SMART north beyond Cloverdale to
Ukiah or the planned NWP terminus in
Willits, where it would connect with the
California Western Railroad and its tourist services. A proposal to expand service to the
East Bay
The East Bay is the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area and includes cities along the eastern shores of San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay. The region has grown to include inland communities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Wi ...
over a rebuilt
Richmond–San Rafael Bridge was named a Finalist in the Transformative Projects Process of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Plan Bay Area 2050.
System details
Rail corridor and freight
The SMART District provides passenger service on the historic
Northwestern Pacific right-of-way, which roughly parallels
US Highway 101 and is owned by the SMART District from Healdsburg to Larkspur. There are 24 bridges in the segment from San Rafael to Santa Rosa, as well as 63
at grade crossings (with the possibility of adding more). A
positive train control
Positive train control (PTC) is a family of automatic train protection systems deployed in the United States. Most of the United States' national rail network mileage has a form of PTC. These systems are generally designed to check that trains a ...
system, as mandated by the
FRA for passenger services with grade crossings, was implemented for the length of the service corridor for customer and pedestrian safety.
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad corridor is also used by
North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) freight services. Freight operator NWP Co began to serve businesses along the SMART right-of-way between Lombard (at the
Napa River
The Napa River is a river approximately long in the U.S. state of California. It drains a famous wine-growing region called the Napa Valley, in the mountains north of the San Francisco Bay. Milliken Creek and Mt. Veeder watersheds are a f ...
) and Windsor in 2011. SMART absorbed the NWP operations in 2020.
In December 2014, rains washed away some of the train track beds near Petaluma at Ely Road. A photo of the spot in December showed the tracks hidden beneath feet of water. A spokesperson for SMART said that "Trains are not running yet, so this is something we will pay attention to." In 2021, the agency was awarded a grant to help fund improvements in freight infrastructure, including new sidings and repairing the bridge over the
Petaluma River.
SMART acquired of right-of-way from NCRA in March 2021, with operating rights transferred on July 26, 2021. NWP continued operating freight service under contract.
Stations

Many of the station platforms are located near historic depots in city centers. However, SMART does not directly use these, and all stops use newly constructed high-floor platforms to allow level boarding onto and off of the train and provide
accessibility. A
gauntlet track
Gauntlet track or interlaced track, also gantlet track () is an arrangement in which Rail tracks, railway tracks run parallel on a single track bed and are interlaced (i.e., overlapped) in such a way that only one pair of rails can be used at any ...
is used at all stations north of the freight interchange at Ignacio to allow freight trains to pass while bringing passenger trains up to the platform edge.
Stations typically include a small shelter with a peaked roof and a bench for seating; they also feature light poles, signs, and garbage cans.
Original plans called for ten stations in the initial operating segment (IOS) with five more in a second phase. A further station was added in Novato's downtown district late in construction of the IOS, and did not open with the system's inauguration.
Rolling stock
The SMART fleet consists of nine two-car
Nippon Sharyo DMU trainsets. Each DMU car is powered by a
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is an American multinational corporation, multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, electric vehicle components, and power generation products. Cummins also services engines and related equipmen ...
QSK19-R diesel engine. The vehicles, designed specifically for SMART and another transit service, the
Union Pearson Express
The Union Pearson Express (UP Express or UPX) is an airport rail link connecting Union Station (Toronto), Union Station in Downtown Toronto to Toronto Pearson International Airport. The UP Express began operation on 6 June 2015, in time for the ...
in
Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
, Ontario, Canada, are slope-nosed and self-propelled by diesel engines that meet stringent "Tier 4"
EPA requirements.
For regular service, SMART runs DMUs in pairs or triplicate. Trains may be as long as station platforms provided there are cabs facing the outer ends.
Each two-car train has room for over 300 passengers.
The
diesel multiple unit trainsets were ordered from
Sumitomo Corporation
is one of the largest worldwide '' sōgō shōsha'' general trading companies, and is a diversified corporation. The company was incorporated in 1919 and is a member company of the Sumitomo Group.
It is listed on three Japanese stock exchange ...
of America /
Nippon Sharyo
, formed in 1896, is a major rolling stock, Heavy equipment, heavy equipment, Diesel generator, generator, Special-purpose entity, special purpose vehicle and bridge manufacturer based in Nagoya, Japan. In 1996, it abbreviated its ...
at a cost of $46.7 million, or $6.67 million for each two-car set. They were delivered to
Rochelle, Illinois
Rochelle is a city in Ogle and Lee counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,446 at the 2020 census. Rochelle is approximately west of Chicago and south of Rockford.
History
Originally named "Lane", the town sits at the inter ...
, for assembling, and then sent to the
Transportation Technology Center in
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule municipality that is the county seat of and the List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous municipality in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The ...
, for testing. Under the contract, additional railcars may be ordered at a cost of $2.9 million per individual car. The first trainset arrived in
Cotati, California, on April 7, 2015. The original order was for fourteen cars in seven two car trainsets, but on July 30, 2015, the state of California announced an $11 million grant to SMART to finance the purchase of three additional cars to be added to the fleet, allowing for three trainsets to be run with three cars, with an increase in capacity of 130 passengers over a two car trainset. In April 2016, SMART's general manager negotiated with CalSTA and Nippon Sharyo to adjust the order so SMART will receive two more full trainsets in place of the extra cars, bringing their fleet size to the required nine trainsets needed for service to Cloverdale. They will be painted in a McGlashan green
livery
A livery is an identifying design, such as a uniform, ornament, symbol, or insignia that designates ownership or affiliation, often found on an individual or vehicle. Livery often includes elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or ...
.
A July 2016 fire aboard one of Toronto's Nippon Sharyo units revealed a design flaw in the engine's crankshaft that would result in premature wear; SMART decided to delay operations until the engines could be serviced to correct the problem.
All trains were refurbished at SMART's rail center by April 2017.
Four additional cars, numbered 115 through 118, were delivered to SMART in 2018. The four cars were damaged during shipping in a freight collision while en route to SMART. The agency did not accept the cars as delivered, and Nippon Sharyo dispatched a team to California to assess the damage and plan for repairs.
Bicycle and pedestrian pathway
In the original sales tax expenditure plan, $90 million was allocated for a bike/pedestrian path along the line for recreation and to enhance connections between stations and the developing network of bicycle-pedestrian pathways. Due to the
Great Recession
The Great Recession was a period of market decline in economies around the world that occurred from late 2007 to mid-2009. , SMART changed its plans for the construction of the bicycle-pedestrian pathway as well as the rail project. Current SMART pathway construction focuses on bridging gaps between existing bicycle-pedestrian pathways, providing access to stations and serving potential high-use areas. A number of segments are being constructed in partnership with local jurisdictions. For example, SMART has obtained a grant for pathway construction in
Rohnert Park and is seeking grants to fund additional segments. As of February 2019, was completed, with the majority of funding coming from local jurisdictions.
Operations

, trains operate 21 round trips on weekdays. Southbound service begins at 4:39 am with a final train at 7:09 pm while northbound service runs from 6:06 am to 8:50 pm. There are eight round trips on weekends with the first train (southbound) departing at 7:16 am and the final train (northbound) leaving at 7:40 pm. According to the schedule, a train takes 1 hour 19 minutes to travel the route going south, and 1 hour 15 minutes going north, an average of . As a Class 4 railroad, passenger speeds are limited to .
Fares
The system operates with fare zones and a
proof-of-payment
Proof-of-payment (POP) or proof-of-fare (POF) is an honor-based fare collection system used on many public transportation systems. Instead of checking each passenger as they enter a fare control zone, passengers are required to carry a paper ...
system with the San Francisco Bay-area
Clipper card serving as a payment method. Tickets may also be purchased using the SMART eTickets
mobile app
A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a smartphone, phone, tablet computer, tablet, or smartwatch, watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop appli ...
. There are five zones in the initial opening segment which will expand to seven when service to Cloverdale is established. Zone ticketing requires little infrastructure at the stations but can be expensive for passengers making a short trip that crosses a zone boundary.
Fares start at $1.50 for a ride within one zone, with an additional $1.50 added for entering each new zone. Once a daily fare of $15 is reached (the maximum round-trip fare), no additional fares will be assessed for further travel that day. Transfers from Santa Rosa CityBus, Sonoma County Transit, Petaluma Transit, and Golden Gate Transit will receive a $1.50 reduction in fare per transfer ($0.75 for discounted tickets).
A specialty Discount Clipper card or the SMART phone app, can be used for discounted fares of up to 50% for children,
senior citizen
Old age is the range of ages for people nearing and surpassing life expectancy. People who are of old age are also referred to as: old people, elderly, elders, senior citizens, seniors or older adults. Old age is not a definite biological sta ...
s, low income, and persons with disabilities. The Discounted fare is $0.75 plus $0.75 per zone
[ A monthly pass is also sold for $135 ($67.50 for eligible riders) which grants the bearer 31 days of unlimited travel from the date of first use.] A Special Weekender Pass is offered on Saturdays for $10 ($5 for eligible riders) that offers unlimited rides for the day. Parking is $2 daily or $20 for a monthly pass at stations, with no overnight parking.
SMART train service was free of charge during the preview service period and the opening day of full service. After opening day, SMART fares were half price through Labor Day, September 4, 2017. Regular fares were charged beginning on September 5. The October 2017 Northern California wildfires
The October 2017 Northern California wildfires, also known as the Northern California firestorm, North Bay Fires, and the Wine Country Fires were a series of 250 wildfires that started burning across the state of California, United States, ...
and 2019 California wildfires prompted the agency to provide free limited service for evacuees.
Additional services
Excursion train
An excursion train is a chartered train run for a special event or purpose. Examples are trains to major sporting event, trains run for railfans or tourists, and special trains operated by the railway company for employees and prominent custo ...
s may be run for special events, such as the Marin County Fair.
Until 2017, the Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma Raceway (originally known as Sears Point Raceway, Golden State International Raceway and Infineon Technologies, Infineon Raceway) is a road course and dragstrip located at Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains of Sonoma County, Cal ...
operated a race-day excursion service that used right-of-way owned by SMART, though not on the mainline tracks and using Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
equipment. A minimal platform had been constructed nearby.
Ridership
SMART was the first Bay Area transit agency to match its pre-pandemic ridership; 2023 ridership of 750,016 was 4% above 2019 ridership. However, daily ridership was still below the 5,100 originally projected. As of , weekday ridership was .
Governance
The Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit District is a special-purpose district
Special districts (also known as special service districts, special district governments, or limited purpose entities) are independent, special-purpose governmental units that exist separately from local governments such as county, municipal, and ...
consisting of Sonoma and Marin Counties. The Board of Directors represent the various cities and transit agencies served along the main line. The twelve members consist of:
*Two members of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, each of whom shall also serve on the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Transportation Authority, appointed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
*Two members of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, appointed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
*Three members, each of whom shall be a mayor or council member of a city or town within the County of Sonoma, appointed by the Sonoma County Mayors and Council Members Association or its successor, provided the following conditions are met:
**At least two members are also city representatives for the Sonoma County Transportation Authority.
**All of the members are from cities on the rail line in Sonoma County.
**No city has more than one member.
*The member of the City Council of the City of Novato who also serves on the Marin County Congestion Management Agency, appointed by the Marin County Congestion Management Agency or its successor.
*The member of the City Council of the City of San Rafael who also serves on the Marin County Congestion Management Agency, appointed by the Marin County Congestion Management Agency or its successor.
*One member, who shall be a mayor or council member of a city or town within the County of Marin and a member of the Marin County Congestion Management Agency, appointed by the Marin County Council of Mayors and Council Members or its successor.
*Two members of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, neither of whom shall be a member of the Marin or Sonoma County Boards of Supervisors, appointed by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District or its successor.
In January 2011, General Manager Lilian Hames, who had led the project for a decade, resigned amid ongoing concern about the project's financial challenges and the necessity to build it in phases. David Heath, the Chief Financial Officer, took over management duties until the appointment later that year of Farhad Mansourian as acting General Manager. In August 2011, Mansourian was appointed permanent General Manager, assuming both financial and general management responsibilities for the project.
For many years, Mansourian was Director of Public Works for Marin County, and his combined annual compensation from SMART ($346,000) and Marin County pension ($148,000) raised some questions initially. SMART board members said that the threat of a SMART repeal effort made bringing a general manager from an out-of-state rail system to the San Francisco Bay Area even more costly. They concluded that Mansourian's demonstrated abilities during his temporary assignment coupled with his knowledge of California's permitting requirements and successful delivery of complex public works projects in Marin County made him the best candidate.
The official color of SMART is McGlashan green, after former Marin county supervisor Charles McGlashan, a SMART proponent who died suddenly of a heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
in 2011.
See also
* North Pacific Coast Railroad
The North Pacific Coast Railroad (NPC) was a common carrier narrow-gauge steam railroad begun in 1874 and sold in 1902 to new owners who renamed it the North Shore Railroad (California) (NSR) and rebuilt the southern section into a standard-ga ...
– a predecessor railroad of the NWP that served Marin and Sonoma counties with interurban
The interurban (or radial railway in Canada) is a type of electric railway, with tram-like electric self-propelled railcars which run within and between cities or towns. The term "interurban" is usually used in North America, with other terms u ...
routes from 1874 to 1902
* List of San Francisco Bay Area trains
* List of California railroads
* List of rail transit systems in the United States
References
External links
*
SMART Train
, Flickr
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit
Public transportation in Marin County, California
Public transportation in Sonoma County, California
Larkspur, California
Novato, California
San Rafael, California
Santa Rosa, California
Bike paths in the San Francisco Bay Area
Rail trails in California
Trails in the San Francisco Bay Area
2002 establishments in California
2017 in rail transport
Railway lines opened in 2017
Standard-gauge railways in the United States
California railroads
Projects established in 2008