Sonoma-Marin rail gets $28 million from state

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit has received $28 million in state funds to purchase land for a maintenance facility and stations and for engineering and design work.|
BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit has received $28 million in state funds to purchase land for a maintenance facility and stations and for engineering and design work.

The money was allocated by the California Transportation Commission on Thursday from Proposition 116, a $1.9 billion bond passed by voters in 1990.

The funds had been expected and were part of the SMART budget.

SMART is evaluating construction costs and anticipated sales tax revenue, but the current projections are for a $155 million shortfall in building the 70-mile line, which is scheduled to open in 2014.

SMART is planning to use $18 million of the state money towards the purchase of a maintenance facility site, now proposed for Todd Road, and land for stations in north Santa Rosa, Cotati and north Petaluma.

The remaining $10 million is intended for engineering and design work.

The agency's real estate committee will discuss where to locate its north Santa Rosa station, either near Jennings Avenue or on Guerneville Road, at its meeting June 2.

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