Construction and Maintenance Updates | Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit
SMART Train crosses Haystack Bridge in Petaluma.

Construction and Maintenance Updates

The latest construction updates on current SMART projects can be found on this page. 

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

    Ballast Application on Railway

    SMART Maintenance of Way staff will apply new ballast material along the rail corridor June 16–30. Work will take place between Southpoint Boulevard in Petaluma and Airport Boulevard in Santa Rosa.

    Work Schedule

    Week of June 15–21

    • Monday, June 15 – Friday, June 19: Ballast will be applied between 6:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.
    • Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21: No ballast work will occur.

    Week of June 22–28

    • Monday, June 22 – Friday, June 26: Ballast will be applied between 6:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.
    • Saturday, June 27: Ballast work may occur between 6:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.
    • Sunday, June 28: No ballast work will occur.

    Week of June 29–July 6

    • Monday, June 29 and Tuesday, June 30: Ballast will be applied between 6:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.

    Noise Impacts
    Residents and businesses near the rail line may experience temporary construction-related noise during work hours. Noise sources may include backup alarms from large dump trucks, engine noise from construction equipment, and the sound of ballast rock being loaded, transported, and placed onto the rail line. Additional noise may occur as ballast contacts the dump bed and rail infrastructure. Railroad crossing warning devices may also activate periodically as work vehicles move through the corridor.

    Healdsburg station

    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.

    To learn more and sign up to receive periodic email updates on construction activities for the Healdsburg Extension Project, please visit sonomamarintrain.org/healdsburg.