SMART Commits $190.5M to 4.75-Mile Rail Extension
Construction begins on tracks linking Windsor to Healdsburg, with passenger service targeted for late 2028.
By Anthony Shevchenko ·
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit's Board of Directors approved a $190.5 million construction contract on Wednesday to build new rail infrastructure between Windsor and Healdsburg.
The agreement with the Stacy and Witbeck/Herzog joint venture initiates the major construction phase of the project. The scope covers approximately 4.75 miles of new rail infrastructure connecting the existing Windsor station to Front Street in Healdsburg.
Crews will construct new railroad tracks, train control systems, and safety infrastructure. The project includes two major railroad bridges, one of which spans the Russian River. Builders will also install roadway crossings and a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian pathway.
The board’s decision follows a recent funding allocation from the California Transportation Commission. The state agency directed $162 million in previously awarded grants toward SMART’s rail and pathway expansion efforts. SMART stated that California has provided approximately 73% of the secured grant funding for this specific extension.
State Sen. Mike McGuire indicated that the investment will facilitate passenger service in Healdsburg by the end of 2028. SMART Board Chair Chris Coursey said the project advances the agency's plan for a connected regional rail and path system serving northern Sonoma County.
Ridership data shows growth for the current system. SMART reported average weekday ridership of 5,754 passengers in September, a 23% increase from the same month last year. For the fiscal year ending June 30, the agency transported nearly 1.5 million passengers across 32 million miles. Its associated pathway recorded more than 1.3 million bicycle and pedestrian trips during that period.
The extension supports SMART’s long-term goal to link Larkspur and Cloverdale via passenger rail and a non-motorized network. The agency expects the project to generate construction employment and improve access to jobs, housing, and education in the North Bay.
