Conduct preliminary design and technical studies to restore rail services to the city of healdsburg and extend the smart rail and pathway system 8.8-miles from the smart windsor station/town of…

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $2.25 million to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) under the Community Project Funding Congressionally Directed Spending program (CFDA 20.534) on August 1, 2025. The grant funds preliminary design and technical studies to restore rail services to Healdsburg and extend the SMART rail and pathway system 8.8 miles from the SMART Windsor Station in the Town of Windsor to the northern city limit of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, California. These studies will be conducted within and along the publicly owned railroad right-of-way.

Upon completion by June 30, 2028, the project will deliver completed technical studies and preliminary design documentation for rail service restoration to Healdsburg. The initiative is intended to benefit commuters, employers, employees, students, seniors, residents, and visitors across the Santa Rosa and Petaluma urban areas, the San Francisco-Oakland urban area, rural areas north and east of the project location, and federally designated historically disadvantaged communities and areas of persistent poverty in California. No subrecipient activities are associated with this award.

Activities

Preliminary design and technical studies will be performed within and along the publicly owned railroad.

Expected outcomes

Completed technical studies and preliminary design for the restoration of rail services to the city of healdsburg.

Intended beneficiaries

Commuters employers employees students seniors residents and visitors.project benefits santa rosa urban area petaluma urban area SAN francisco-oakland urban area and state of california including rural areas north and east of the project location and federal-designated historically disadvantaged communities and areas of persistent poverty.