SMART, Petaluma To Celebrate Grand Opening Of Bicycle, Pedestrian Path

PETALUMA, CA — The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District — SMART — and the City of Petaluma will celebrate the grand opening Saturday of the bicycle and pedestrian pathway connecting east and west Petaluma from Payran Street to Southpoint Boulevard.

The event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. Remarks by SMART and city officials will be followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The public is invited to attend the grand opening which will include an inaugural ride and walk under a balloon arch onto the newly opened pathway.

"This pathway opening is a great cause for celebration," said David Rabbitt, SMART Board chair. "The pathway provides Petaluma with an important cross-town connection for pedestrians and bicyclists, creating opportunities for recreation and non-motorized travel. Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure supports everyone in a community, whether we need or choose to bike or walk to get to our jobs, schools, stores, and services."

The event will be held on the section of the pathway located behind the Town and Country Shopping Center at 1000 North Petaluma Boulevard.

"We’re very excited about the opening of this new section of the SMART Trail, which provides an invaluable cross-town connection for people traveling by foot and bike," said Christopher Bolt, director of Public Works and Utilities for the City of Petaluma. "Completion of this critical project provides a valuable link in Petaluma’s growing active transportation network, helping to foster a happier, healthier, and carbon-neutral community. We’d like to encourage everyone to come out and explore this new trail and consider using it for daily transportation and recreation."

The Grand Opening will be a two-part celebration; SMART and the City of Petaluma will also be celebrating the official groundbreaking of construction for a new segment of pathway connecting Payran Street to Lakeville Street. Construction of this additional segment is slated to begin later this year.