'Peaceful Oasis' From Marin To Cloverdale: Politicians Celebrate More SMART

NORTH BAY, CA — The actual construction on Hudson Street is not expected to start until spring 2027, and much of the work will happen across town from the celebration site.

But more than 1,000 people signed up for SMART’s Healdsburg groundbreaking Friday, packing the Foley Family Pavilion months before construction crews will even begin work on the rail extension.

The turnout reflected the enormous expectations surrounding the North Bay rail system and what supporters believe it could become. To quote David Byrne's ironic song, "Once there were parking lots. Now, it's a peaceful oasis."

Before dignitaries raised ceremonial mallets and drove railroad spikes into steel rails in a model railroad, officials described the Healdsburg extension as far more than a transportation project.

They called it a regional transformation expected to reshape mobility, housing, tourism, economic development, and infrastructure across Sonoma and Marin counties.

“Healdsburg is ready for this,” said North Bay District 2 incumbent Rep. Jared Huffman told the crowd. “We’re doing something for the future.”

When completed, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system is expected to create a 70-mile rail corridor stretching through the North Bay. Leaders repeatedly pointed toward Cloverdale as the next major goal.

The train started as a somewhat unlikely idea in a region whose commutes depended on carpools and commuter busses. Cars still dominate HWY-101.

At the same time, SMART officials counted nearly 134,000 riders in April 2026, the highest in the agency's history. Average weekday ridership increased by 30 percent compared to 2025, according recent agency figures.

Executives attributed part of the bump to regional events, including the Butter and Egg Days Parade in Petaluma, which the agency said generated over 7,200 passenger trips in one day.

In addition the agency implemented a plan to integrate existing agencies, including Golden Gate Transit and local bus systems, to provide public transportation options on HWY-101 between Sonoma and Marin county. The program, called MASCOTS, launched in April, which SMART officials said added 19 percent more service.

Officials at the event pointed to the expanding trails, new stations, and growing development around the corridor as proof that the system has become part of daily North Bay life.

Supporters today said the train extension could further connect Sonoma and Marin counties, reduce Highway 101 traffic, expand sustainable transportation options, improve mobility for students and seniors, strengthen local economies, and encourage more transit-oriented housing development near stations. In other words, they argue, SMART is steadily changing the physical infrastructure of the North Bay itself.

Assemblymember Damon Connolly called the rail system “a lifeline” for older residents and said free senior fares helped fuel major ridership growth. Assemblyman Chris Rogers, and former SMART board member, linked SMART directly to new housing and economic development around stations.

Officials also highlighted growing tourism expectations surrounding the expansion. The River Rock Casino between Healdsburg and Cloverdale is eagerly awaiting the northern extension, which would open the casino to easier access from the wider Bay Area and connect more visitors to northern Sonoma County destinations. "Healdsburg is already a destination," Healdsburg City Councilman Chris Herrod said. "And soon they'll be able to arrive by train."

However, the process of building the station will involve an intricate process of permitting and infrastructure work. Officials said nearly every expansion requires coordination across water lines, creeks, utilities, roads, environmental permits, and multiple jurisdictions.

Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey said the scale requires coordination among cities, counties, and agencies all along the route. “Cities are responsible for the infrastructure, but the agencies work together,” Coursey said.

Behind the celebration also stands an enormous patchwork of funding agencies and public partnerships, whose representatives from state, federal, regional, and local transportation agencies filled the stage Friday. Some of that money comes from a 2008 voter-approved sales tax, combined with hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and state grants.

The next political test arrives June 2, when voters will decide whether to renew Measure B, the sales tax that helps fund SMART operations. “We need that sales tax to keep building,” said Novato Mayor Kevin Jacobs said.

California Sen. Mike McGuire expressed confidence the measure will pass.“Voters are committed,” McGuire said. “I’m confident of that.”

Healdsburg City Councilwoman Ariel Kelley said construction of the Healdsburg station itself is already fully funded and does not depend on the ballot measure.

However, the the day-to-day operation of the train system would depends on renewal of the tax.