SMART Pathway

The SMART Pathway/Great Redwood Trail

The SMART Pathway/Great Redwood Trail provides first and last-mile connections to SMART Rail Stations and offers a dedicated facility for people to walk, bike, and roll safely within and between communities. Through the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 69 in 2021, the SMART Pathway officially became designated as the southern portion of the Great Redwood Trail. Once complete, the Great Redwood Trail will be a 307-mile multiuse path connecting California’s San Francisco and Humboldt Bays. For more information about the Great Redwood Trail, please find their website here.

To date, SMART along with partner agencies have constructed over 32 miles of pathway, of which approximately 24 miles are Class I SMART Pathway/Great Redwood Trail within and along the railroad right-of-way. Additionally, SMART is completing several sections of pathway in Sonoma and Marin Counties.

For more on the status of the pathway, please see the June 2023 Pathway Update presented to the SMART Board of Directors here.

Pathway Rules

• Maintain a safe speed: 15 mph or less for all users, including e-bikes and e-scooters.
• Yield to pedestrians: Always give the right of way to those on foot.
• Keep right, pass left: Announce yourself when passing.
• Leash your dog: Pets must be on a leash at all times.
• Clean up after animals: Remove pet waste, including from horses.
• Stay aware: Be mindful of your surroundings and others.

Pathway Wayfinding Plan

SMART is developing a Pathway Wayfinding Plan that will include signage for the multi-use bicycle and pedestrian pathway, which connects communities to SMART rail stations and other destinations. Learn more.

Interactive Pathway Map

New maps with improved legibility and updated information on the status of the SMART Pathway are available in two formats: printable maps in PDF format (see links below) and the online interactive map shown below.

Printable Pathway Maps

Additional Information about the Pathway Map

The SMART Pathway map is meant to be a reference document for the community get information on the status and location of different pathway segments related to the SMART Pathway alignment. It is not meant to be a live navigation tool or a comprehensive map of all pathways along the SMART corridor. For these maps, we recommend those created and sold by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition (SCBC) and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC).

For trip planning and navigation purposes, we recommend using Google or Apple Maps, or a sports mobile app like Strava. Our Planning department works with Google and Apple Maps to ensure our routes are accurately depicted.

The SMART Pathway shapefile is available for use by other jurisdictions. For a copy of the shapefile, please contact the Assistant Planner at (707) 794-3079.

The color scheme adopted for the Pathway Map is based on showing two systems: The SMART alignment as envisioned and what currently exists between SMART and existing City/County bicycle facilities. Each of these two systems has four categories each. With this many variations, the color palette can become large and look more like a wiring diagram. SMART’s current color palette is based on a continuum running from cooler temperatures for less automobile interaction to warmer temperatures for more automobile interaction, while still differentiating the two systems. As the maps evolve over time, so too will the color palette.

The routes labeled “City/County Gap Closure” were selected using the following criteria:

• Routes are roughly parallel to the SMART Pathway alignment
• Routes are officially designated/labeled as a bicycle route by the local jurisdiction, with clear street markings if Class II or Class III
• If Class II, III, or IV, routes have lanes in both directions
• Preference for a single, straight route over multiple turns.