SMART advises of noisy upcoming work to smooth out tracks

That noise you’re likely to hear along the SMART commuter rail over the next month or so is grinding intended to smooth irregularities in the track, the rail agency said Friday.

It’s going to be loud.

There may be sparks.

All 43 miles of the initial route for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit will undergo the work, which was to begin Saturday and last through Dec. 7.

Crews will be at it 12 hours a day, six days a week, Monday through Saturday, the agency said.

A special three-car, 80-foot grinding train moving 3-5 mph will do the work and already has begun on a southerly stretch of track starting in San Rafael, spokesman Matt Stevens said.

The operation was expected to make an appearance on Airport Boulevard north of Santa Rosa as early as this weekend before working its way south to Novato, he said.

Stevens said the process is a normal part of rolling out any new train system.

Manufacture of the steel rails results in a rough scaling on the surface that has to be removed to optimize conductivity and signal communication along its length.

He said the agency was taking safety steps, including using flaggers at grade crossings to keep people and motorists clear of the machine.

The grinders can throw rocks or other debris encountered on the rail, Stevens said. A water tank crew also will follow the grinder to ensure no fires are sparked, he said.

Noise levels up to 85 decibels - loud enough to raise potential risks over extended periods - are expected, however.

Updates on the construction schedules should be available at www.sonomamarintrain.org/construction-updates.

Inquiries can be made via phone at 855-312-7444 and by email to info@sonomamarintrain.org.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MaryCallahanB.