SMART approves $190.5 million contract for Healdsburg rail extension

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Board of Directors has approved a $190.5 million contract to construct a nearly five-mile rail extension from Windsor to Healdsburg. The contract was awarded to a joint venture between Stacy and Witbeck and Herzog.

The project involves refurbishing derelict track segments, installing modern technology, adding concrete railroad ties, and implementing a new train control system. Additionally, the contract includes the fabrication of two steel railroad bridges: a truss-style bridge over the Russian River and a girder-style bridge over Old Redwood Highway. These bridges are designed to accommodate both rail, bike, and pedestrian traffic.

Funding for the extension includes $162 million in state grants from the California Transportation Commission, supplemented by federal, local, and regional sources. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027, with service to Healdsburg projected to start in late 2028. SMART officials noted that the extension is a step toward further northward expansion into Geyserville and Cloverdale.