Good idea, but way to much money.. Why does it cost so much??? Stupidity...

SMART train receives millions for expansion to connect SF with Wine Country

The Bay Area regional train recently received $74 million in increased funding

Olivia Harden

A massive pile of cash has made its way to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) train, and it's a leap forward for providing a transit connection between San Francisco and Wine Country.

In the span of a single week, the SMART train project pocketed $74 million in funding from two sources.

On Jan. 25, the California Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, freeing up $40 million for the project. A few days later on Jan. 30, Gov. Gavin Newsom offered $34 million in grant money to SMART as a part of a $2.5 billion plan for transportation expansion.

The funding is expected to go toward expanding the rail service north to Healdsburg and then Cloverdale. The train service starts in Larkspur near the Golden Gate Ferry terminal and currently goes as far north as the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa. 

Construction to expand the line is expected to begin in June.

This cash infusion could open more areas of the North Bay to car-less San Franciscans. SMART offers a “sail and rail package” which is a one-way ticket on the Golden Gate Larkspur ferry, with a transfer on the SMART train for $12. 

SMART ridership has fluctuated since its peak in 2019, when it reported it served more than 700,000. In 2022, the SMART train reportedly served just over 350,000 riders. 

Currently, the SMART train stretches over 12 stops between Sonoma and Marin counties. Voters approved a rail expansion 16 years ago to reach Cloverdale, but SMART has not added a new station since the Larkspur stop opened in 2019. Voters showed a lack of support for the rail system when they rejected SMART's request in 2020 to extend the sales tax measure that funds it.

To support its projects, SMART continues to vie for even more funding from government leaders. 

President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan is expected to spend more than $1 trillion on improving transportation and SMART leaders are looking to secure three more grants to pocket another $113 million.