Posted on 28 December 2020
By Geoffrey D Smith
A vision for the SMART train is being realized now. Imagine a day in the life of a SMART train commuter.
The vision of a regional passenger rail service has been growing since the last century. The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit System (SMART) district was established by state legislation in 2002, and subsequent ballot measures established sales tax funding for SMART — both the train and the SMART pathway. On Friday, August 25, 2017 at 9 am at Railroad Square, Santa Rosa Station, SMART was officially dedicated... 43 miles of what will ultimately be a 70-mile passenger rail service between Larkspur and Cloverdale.
The following is a day in the life of a typical SMART train commuter...
The morning begins with some juice and fruit at home in Santa Rosa’s Junior College Neighborhood. It is important to hydrate! I grab my folding bicycle which I keep by the front door and step out into the sweet morning air. Unfolding the bike and donning my helmet, I am on my way in less than 60 Seconds. It's a few short blocks from where I live to the SMART Pathway at College Avenue. I head south on the quiet, smooth, car-free ‘Class 1’ pathway, running alongside the tracks. In a few minutes I arrive at the historic train station in Railroad Square. I grab a cup of fresh roasted coffee at The Flying Goat, then walk up the ramp to the boarding platform and swipe my pre-paid Clipper card on the scanner. I quickly fold my bike and take my position behind the yellow line. It's a beautiful morning!