Calif. SMART officials await $20M in funding for rail extension
Fed officials say 'the project is in the project development phase of the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants program and undergoing review.”
SMART awarded an extension contract last year to a joint venture of Stacy and Witbeck and Herzog Contracting Corp. for the work, which is continuing in lieu of the funding.
SMART
1 min to read
SMART awarded an extension contract last year to a joint venture of Stacy and Witbeck and Herzog Contracting Corp. for the work, which is continuing in lieu of the funding.
SMART
PETALUMA, Calif. — The Marin Independent Journal reports that there is growing concern among Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) officials about the agency receiving its $20 million Small Starts grant for the extension of the system from San Rafael to Larkspur.
When asked about the grant, the FTA issued a statement that read: “A construction grant agreement has not been signed for the San Rafael to Larkspur Extension. The project is in the project development phase of the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants program and undergoing review.”
SMART awarded an extension contract last year to a joint venture of Stacy and Witbeck and Herzog Contracting Corp. for the work, which is continuing in lieu of the funding. The companies handled the 43-mile section of track between Santa Rosa and downtown San Rafael that opened in August.
As a backup, SMART officials are reportedly hoping state dollars will be able to fund the gap. The extension is expected to launch in 2019. For the full story, click here.
The agencies, San Diego MTS and NCTD - San Diego Railroad, which share a fare system (PRONTO), proposed the changes to help address their respective financial sustainability strategies.
The ATP board’s approval of the KAP team enables ATP to begin pre-construction activities, including advancing design, initiating permitting, and preparing the site for future construction.
The railroad has issued a formal request for proposals to manufacturers for more than 800 new passenger railcars that will serve 14 long-distance routes nationwide.
The delivery marks the first car in a 374‑vehicle order and begins the arrival of a new generation of higher‑capacity, more reliable, and more comfortable trains for one of the country’s busiest commuter rail systems.
BART recorded 5,403,140 exits in March, making it the highest monthly ridership since the pandemic and surpassing the previous high set in October 2025 (5,346,890 exits).
The station was rebuilt as part of SEPTA’s Station Accessibility Program, making it fully ADA accessible with new elevators, ramps, and high-level platforms.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
