SMART receives $81 million grant for expansion into Healdsburg

SMART is poised to receive an $81 million state grant that would provide what is needed to expand the rail line and pedestrian walkway from Windsor to Healdsburg.

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District project is one of 27 projects that have received a total of $1.33 billion from California State’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Grant program, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Transportation Authority announced Wednesday.

“This is such a huge win for the residents of northern Sonoma County and builds on the $40 million state investment now being used to connect the Sonoma County Airport to the City of Windsor,” said Senate Pro Tem McGuire, D-Healdsburg, said in a statement Thursday.

The Windsor-to-Healdsburg segment will break ground next year, McGuire said. It includes the reconstruction of 5.5 miles of track from the Windsor Depot at 9001 Windsor Ave. to the historic Healdsburg Depot at 320 Hudson St. Track and trail work would continue another 5.3 miles north to the northern city limit.

This is a development story. Check back for updates.

Jeff Quackenbush covers wine, construction and real estate. Reach him at [email protected] or 707-521-4256.