What to Look For: TRC Launches Transit Protect
TRC Celebrates SMART Launch
The event marks the launch of a five-year contract originally announced by TRC in March 2023.
June 19, 2023
SMART is the North Bay’s passenger rail serving Marin and Sonoma counties.
Photo: TRC
2 min to read
The Routing Company (TRC) celebrated Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) as it cut the ribbon on its brand new on-demand SMART Connect service, powered by TRC’s Ride Pingo.
The event marks the launch of a five-year contract originally announced by TRC in March 2023.
TRC participated in the ribbon cutting at SMART’s Sonoma County Airport station alongside California Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire, SMART Board Chair Eric Lucan, SMART Board Vice Chair Melanie Bagby, SMART General Manager Eddy Cumins, and Sonoma County Airport Manager Jon Stout.
What is SMART?
SMART is the North Bay’s passenger rail serving Marin and Sonoma counties.
Its current 45-mile system is responsible for nearly 500,000 passenger trips annually and includes stations in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael, and Larkspur.
TRC partnered with SMART to offer accessible on-demand service and transit connections through SMART Connect – ultimately providing first-and-last-mile solutions for North Bay residents.
The service is beginning with the Sonoma County Airport Station with the potential to expand to remaining stations.
TRC's Full Pingo Suite
SMART’s deployment uses TRC’s full Pingo suite including the Ride Pingo app for riders, the Drive Pingo app for drivers, and the cloud-based Pingo Dashboard for fleet operators.
Features include Transit Connect, which uses real-time data to guarantee transit connections for riders, and Pingo Journey.
“We are excited to welcome passengers on board SMART Connect and look forward to providing a seamless and efficient train-to-airport connection. Additionally, this innovative microtransit service will reduce car trips and support local employers by helping people get to and from this busy business corridor,” said Eric Lucan, chair, SMART Board of Directors.
More Rail
LA Metro Breaks Ground on East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project
The 6.7-mile line will add 11 stations along Van Nuys Boulevard, expand access to jobs and regional transit connections, and support Metro’s broader efforts to improve mobility as rail ridership grows.
Read More →
CSA Group Releases Climate Resilience Standard for Transit, Passenger Rail
Developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada, CSA D700 guides assessing climate-related risks and planning adaptation measures for transit and passenger rail systems.
Read More →
LA Metro September Ridership Climbs 3.9%, Led by Rail Growth
The agency recorded more than 27.2 million boardings, with rail ridership increasing 12.4% year over year and the D Line posting the largest gains.
Read More →
First Full MetroLink Rail Expansion Completed in 20 Years with $192M Airport Project
The project links two St. Louis-area airports by light rail while adding roadway and bike trail connections to improve regional access and mobility.
Read More →
Utilimarc Launches SmartReplace to Optimize Fleet Replacement Decisions
AI-powered SmartReplace helps fleets prioritize vehicle replacements, model budget scenarios, and build more defensible long-term strategies.
Read More →
Scenes from APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026
Transit leaders, manufacturers, and industry professionals gathered in Chicago to explore new technologies, share ideas, and discuss the future of public transportation.
Read More →
USDOT Awards $416 Million for Florida Rail Crossing Safety Upgrades, New Brightline Station
The projects aim to reduce risks for motorists and pedestrians at rail crossings while expanding passenger rail access along Florida’s Space Coast.
Read More →
OCTA Declares Emergency to Protect Rail Corridor From Coastal Erosion
The California agency is accelerating shoreline protection and plans to place approximately 690,000 cubic yards of sand along the San Clemente coast to protect a key passenger and freight rail link.
Read More →
More Than a Summer Job: Building the Next Generation of Transit Talent
The Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO have transformed their internship program into a hands-on professional development experience that introduces students to the breadth of transportation careers — and creates a pipeline for future employees.
Read More →
Airo Trains Make Their Amtrak Cascades Debut in the Pacific Northwest
Effective immediately, two cutting-edge Airo trainsets will join the Amtrak Cascades route, operating four daily trips between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland, and Eugene, Oregon, marking the first introduction of Airo trains into passenger service anywhere in the country.
Read More →