The purpose of the award is to provide 1 year support for preventive maintenance activities of the smart publicly owned commuter railroad for the period of july 1 2025 to june 30 2026.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded a Formula Grant of $5.3 million to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) on August 21, 2025, under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507). The grant supports one year of preventive maintenance activities for SMART's publicly owned commuter railroad system from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Funding covers all eligible preventive maintenance activities for vehicles and track infrastructure, including supplies, materials, labor, and services necessary to preserve and extend the functionality of SMART's assets in a cost-effective manner consistent with current industry standards.

The grant ensures continued capital maintenance of the 45-mile commuter rail system serving Marin and Sonoma Counties, enabling SMART to maintain rolling stock vehicles in a state of good repair and sustain reliable service operations. Primary beneficiaries include residents and workers across the Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and San Francisco/Oakland urban areas, as well as smaller communities and rural areas throughout Marin and Sonoma Counties who depend on SMART services for transportation to school, work, and essential services. No subrecipient activities are identified under this award.

Activities

Funds will be used to cover all eligible preventive maintenance activities for vehicles and maintenance of way. Preventive maintenance includes all the activities supplies materials labor services and associated costs required to preserve or extend the functionality and serviceability of smarts assets in a cost effective manner up to and including the current state of the art for maintaining such an asset.

Expected outcomes

Funding will allow for the continued capital maintenance of the smart system to ensure continued operation of services and keep rolling stock vehicles in a state of good repair.

Intended beneficiaries

The communities within marin and sonoma counties including residents of the santa rosa petaluma and SAN francisco/oakland urban areas as well as smaller communities and rural areas will benefit as well as the riders that rely on smart services to get to school work services and other destinations.