SMART Reopens Debate Over Healdsburg Station Site

HEALDSBURG, CA — A train station debate that Healdsburg appeared to settle more than two years ago has been reopened in advance of the city council meeting today, where SMART will present construction updates and revisit the question of a location for the Healdsburg SMART station.

SMART will formally raise the question of moving Healdsburg’s future train station from the Hudson Street depot to a downtown site when its general manager addresses the City Council on Monday.

SMART General Manager Eddy Cumins will present construction updates and discuss options during the Healdsburg meeting.

The agenda does not call for a vote or direct council members to select a station site.

But SMART officials have reopened a consequential question for Healdsburg: Should the city’s future train station rise beside the historic depot on Hudson Street or move closer to downtown along Vine Street?

The proposal to move the future SMART station from Hudson Street has set off fierce opposition online.

Vice Mayor Ron Edwards urged residents who support the Hudson Street depot location to attend today's meeting to oppose the location switch.

Edwards said he was surprised SMART had reopened the location question and asked supporters to state “Depot” during public comment to demonstrate unified support for the original site.

The proposal follows Sept. 16 SMART board meeting as the agency prepares to extend passenger rail service north from Windsor.

SMART staff asked the board to authorize a new round of public outreach before choosing between the Depot/Hudson Street site and a downtown site along the Vine Street corridor between Matheson and North streets.

The two potential station locations sit about 0.45 mile apart.

The Healdsburg City Council supported the Hudson Street site in February 2024, absent new information or changed circumstances. SMART officials now say both have emerged.

The agency has secured funding for the Healdsburg extension, passenger counts have climbed, and SMART has gathered more detailed information about employment, pedestrian access, parking, population, and travel patterns around the two locations, according to the agency.

SMART’s analysis showed that the downtown station area currently has a higher concentration of travel activity than the Depot/Hudson Street area.

According to the agency’s presentation, the downtown location has 45 percent more non-shared trips and 12 percent more intercity trips within a half-mile. It also has 12 percent more combined population and jobs within a quarter-mile walkshed and 84 percent more jobs within that same area.

SMART staff also found that the downtown site offers stronger pedestrian connections and better access to bus service.

“The Depot/Hudson may have been the ‘historic’ site, but is it the right location for today?” SMART staff asked in the Sept. 16 board presentation.

The agency expects Healdsburg to function largely as a destination station serving employees, customers, students, visitors, and recreational travelers.

SMART reported that 84 percent of Healdsburg’s workforce, or about 5,500 people, lives outside the city. Approximately 42 percent of those workers live in communities already served or expected to be served by SMART.

The agency also pointed to changing passenger behavior. SMART reported that 49 percent of riders commute to work, 29 percent travel for recreation or leisure, and 7 percent ride specifically for shopping.

SMART owns enough railroad right of way to build at either location.

The Sept. 16 agenda item did not ask the board to approve a move to Vine Street. Staff instead recommended that SMART collect additional public feedback before making a final location decision.

The proposed outreach includes a presentation to the Healdsburg City Council, a public webpage, an online survey running through Nov. 30, and a community meeting in October. Staff also proposed providing monthly updates to the SMART board and returning with a detailed analysis of the public feedback in December.

The station would be included in the second construction package for the Healdsburg extension, covering the section from Front Street to North Street.

SMART plans to begin construction in spring 2027 on the first segment, which will extend from Windsor Station to Front Street.

The discussion follows another recent agreement between the city and SMART.

On Sept. 8, the council unanimously approved a $141,285.61 funding agreement with SMART for utility design. Council members approved the agreement on a 5-0 vote as part of the consent calendar.

The Healdsburg City Council presentation by SMART is under Business Item 8.b. on the Monday agenda. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Healdsburg City Hall, 401 Grove St., and online.