Healdsburg Extension Project

About the Project

SMART is extending its regional passenger rail and pathway system service northward from Windsor to Healdsburg.

The project will add roughly nine miles of track, construct a new SMART station in Healdsburg, and extend the SMART multi-use pathway for active transportation along the rail corridor.

Critical infrastructure upgrades—including improved grade crossings, bridge rehabilitation/replacement, modern signaling, and safety systems—are part of the project.

A design contract was awarded in 2025 and passenger service is planned to start by late 2028.

The extension is funded through a combination of federal, state, regional, and local grants, reflecting strong support for expanding sustainable transportation, reducing congestion, and enhancing regional connectivity.

Preliminary Project Schedule

Geotechnical Work Beginning Soon

SMART is preparing to begin initial field work for the Healdsburg Extension project.

One of the first activities will consist of geotechnical borings, which will use a drill rig to collect soil samples. These samples will help the project’s design team better understand existing soil conditions along the rail right-of-way.

The work began on Monday, March 30, 2026, and is anticipated to continue through April.

Geotechnical boring locations include:

Old Redwood Highway
Sargent Road
Syar Quarry
Healdsburg Station area
Between Matheson Street and North Street

All work will be conducted within SMART-owned property.

Residents and motorists may notice construction activity in these areas, including heavy equipment and flashing lights, and may experience some noise while drilling is underway. Construction personnel will take measures to minimize noise and limit impacts as much as possible.

Traffic control measures will be in place as needed, and vehicles will be allowed to pass through as directed. Please use caution and follow the instructions of traffic control personnel.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we take these important early steps toward extending SMART service to Healdsburg.

Groundbreaking Celebration

Join SMART on Friday, May 8 at 1:00 p.m., at the Foley Family Community Pavilion in Healdsburg to celebrate this exciting milestone as we work towards connecting more communities.

The Healdsburg Extension Project underscores our commitment to sustainable and green transportation solutions. The addition of a new train station, along with the SMART Pathway/Great Redwood Trail, will strengthen regional connectivity across Sonoma and Marin counties and allow riders to travel from Healdsburg to Larkspur, where they can connect to San Francisco, and beyond. The project will also support local economic activity by improving access to businesses and destinations, enhance mobility options for residents and visitors, foster stronger community connections, expand access to outdoor recreation, and contribute to a more environmentally responsible North Bay.

Design and initial construction activities are currently underway, with passenger service anticipated to begin in late 2028. Once completed, the project will deliver a new train station and provide a continuous bicycle and pedestrian connection between Healdsburg and Windsor via the SMART Pathway/Great Redwood Trail and the City of Healdsburg’s Foss Creek Trail.

Click here to let us know you're joining us.

Renderings

Healdsburg station

Warren truss bridge

Through plate girder bridge

Old Redwood Highway overcrossing and Class I pathway

The proposed new bridge includes a rail and pathway crossing of Old Redwood Highway. Roadway improvements at Old Redwood Highway are being developed in partnership with the local jurisdiction, the County of Sonoma.

Quiet Zones

Cities and counties can establish Quiet Zones, which are specific sections of a railroad where routine use of the train horn at grade crossings is prohibited, with certain exceptions.

In conjunction with SMART’s extension to Healdsburg, the Town of Windsor, the County of Sonoma and the City of Healdsburg plan on establishing a Quiet Zone between the Town of Windsor and Northern Healdsburg. This process involves the local jurisdictions working together with the Federal Railroad Administration to demonstrate that federally required safety criteria are met prior to establishing a Quiet Zone. To reach this point, the local jurisdictions, California Public Utilities Commission, Federal Railroad Administration, and SMART review each crossing. The local jurisdictions and regulatory staff confirm that the appropriate improvements—such as upgraded gates, warning devices, or features like roadway medians are in place to ensure that each crossing remains safe without the routine use of the train horn. Once all requirements are met, the Quiet Zone can be formally established by the local jurisdiction via Federal Railroad Administration approval.

Once approved and established, routine train horn use at designated crossings will be prohibited, except in emergency or safety-critical situations, such as emergencies, a vehicle stopped on the track, SMART maintenance personnel or a trespasser near the track, a grade crossing malfunction, such as a broken gate arm or equipment failure, during testing, and/or at the train engineer’s discretion.

Despite the establishment of a Quiet Zone, the public will hear the bell onboard the train at grade crossings and the bells at grade crossings.

Documents

Share Your Input

Tell us which trips matter most to you and what time of day you're most likely to ride. Your feedback will help us plan a schedule that best meets the needs of the Healdsburg community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please sign up for construction updates on the top of this page. Emails will be sent with construction updates as the project progresses. Emails will also be available below.

The project is in the design phase, with surveying and fieldwork already underway. Active construction will begin in Spring 2027, and we anticipate opening the station for passenger service at the end of 2028.

Based on feedback received from the City of Healdsburg, right now, SMART is focused on constructing the Healdsburg station at the historic depot area.

Yes. $269M in grant dollars has been secured. The extension is funded through a combination of federal, state, regional, and local grants, reflecting strong support for expanding sustainable transportation, reducing congestion, and enhancing regional connectivity.

The Cloverdale extension is not yet fully funded; we continue to seek out state and federal grant opportunities to construct this final extension northward.

Contact

For questions regarding construction activities, please contact Allison Mattioli, Communications and Marketing Specialist, at amattioli@sonomamarintrain.org.

Email Updates

All construction updates will be available below once they are sent by email.