Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART)

Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) has been working since 1999 to plan, engineer and build passenger rail service along the former NWP right-of-way (ROW) for 70 miles from Larkspur Landing to Cloverdale. The MCBC has been working with SMART since its inception to ensure that a multi-use pathway parallel to the rail line would be included in SMART's plans. To view SMART’s FAQ, click here.

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) supported Measure R, which appeared on the November 7, 2006 ballot in Marin and Sonoma Counties. The 0.25 cent sales tax ballot measure would have provided funds to establish passenger rail service, as well as a bicycle and pedestrian pathway parallel to the rail line, for the 70-mile corridor from Larkspur Landing in Marin to Cloverdale in Sonoma. The Measure garnered more than 65% and was narrowly defeated by 1.34% between the two counties. It is expected that SMART will go back to voters in November 2008 with another funding proposal for the “rail with trail.”

According to the SMART Final Environmental Impact Report, approximately 7,000 bicyclists and pedestrians would use the pathway on a daily basis on weekdays and over 10,000 people would use it on the weekend days. Rail stations are being designed to optimize pedestrian and bicycle access, including on-site bicycle parking at all stations and space for staffed bicycle storage and maintenance facilities at the San Rafael and Santa Rosa station sites. With room being designed into rail cars for bicycle storage, passengers will be able take the train and ride their bicycles to work, school, shopping or for recreation.

In the Spring of 2008, SMART completed a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report to evaluate weekend service, a south Novato Station, alternative rail vehicles and freight use of the SMART right-of-way.

One of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s long-term project goals is the creation of a North-South Greenway pathway, along the railroad right-of-way, which will provide connections to transit, businesses, schools, residences and other destinations. SMART owns the railroad right-of-way north of Corte Madera. MCBC will continue to work with SMART to garner funds and support to build the North-South Greenway.

 

 

Last updated May 2008