SMART Gears Up For Geyserville Station Plans With Meeting, Survey

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A surprise proposal to add a SMART passenger rail station in tiny Geyserville has quickly shifted from speculation to public planning, as transit officials prepare to hear from residents next month about a stop made possible by a change in state law that could reshape the final leg of the rail line.

SMART's northernmost station is currently in Windsor, with a Healdsburg station targeted to open in 2028.

But the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit district has launched a public outreach effort to evaluate a proposed passenger rail station in Geyserville.

The proposed Geyserville station near Highway 128 and Remmel Road would bridge the roughly 18-mile gap between Healdsburg and Cloverdale.

SMART officials say an intermediate stop could spread construction costs over multiple phases while expanding rail service to another Sonoma County community.

"It’s a long hop from Healdsburg to Cloverdale. Geyserville is right in between, and tracks would be just east of the center of town. A station there makes sense," Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey, chairman of the SMART board, told the Marin Independent Journal.

The district scheduled a meeting in Geyserville about the proposed station Aug. 10 and launched a survey.

SMART blueprints

The proposal surprised observers because SMART's original governing law limited stations north of Healdsburg to incorporated communities, and earlier expansion plans identified Cloverdale as the line's next and final northern stop.

That was still the public message during SMART's May groundbreaking event in Healdsburg.

At the time, the agency was campaigning for Measure B, the June 2026 ballot measure that renewed its quarter-cent sales tax.

SMART officials warned that failure of the measure could jeopardize future expansion plans, which generally meant Healdsburg and Cloverdale.

Voters approved Measure B in June. Soon afterward, SMART announced it was evaluating a station in Geyserville, creating the impression that the proposal had emerged after the election.

In reality, the legal foundation had been laid two years earlier.

Senate Bill 904, authored by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and signed into law in 2024, amended SMART's governing law by removing restrictions that generally limited new stations north of Healdsburg to incorporated communities. Because Geyserville is unincorporated, the previous law effectively prevented SMART from formally planning a station there.

With that barrier removed, SMART gained the authority to evaluate stations in unincorporated Sonoma County between Healdsburg and Cloverdale.

Although the proposal surprised many residents, the possibility of a Geyserville station had already been incorporated into the agency's long-range planning.

SMART and supporters say the proposed station could bring new economic activity to the unincorporated community of about 800 residents, which serves as a gateway to Alexander Valley wineries, restaurants, lodging, and outdoor recreation.

Supporters also argue the rail service could attract more visitors for wine tasting, dining, and other activities while reducing vehicle trips and parking demand in Geyserville's small downtown.

SMART officials say the proposed station could serve residents, employees, businesses, and visitors while strengthening transportation connections throughout northern Sonoma County.

Meeting

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the Geyserville Oriental Community Hall, 1000 Highway 128. Parking is available at the Community Hall. Info: sonomamarintrain.org/geyserville.

The meeting will include a presentation, project information, a question-and-answer session, and public comment. Spanish interpretation, language assistance, and refreshments will be available.