Congressman Helps Secure $3M Grant for SMART Train System

MARIN COUNTY, CA — U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration awarded $3 million in funding to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District system. The competitive grant comes after Huffman urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to award SMART’s grant application.

"The safety of my constituents is always my top priority and these much-needed funds will assure that the SMART’s state-of-the-art rail service will meet the highest level of safety technology," said Huffman. "The SMART system is a critical service to commuters, to students going to school and to tourists that are visiting and spending money in our local economy. I am grateful to the Department of Transportation for investing in SMART’s success."

In March, Huffman toured SMART’s rail system with the administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, Sarah Feinberg.

The funding will allow the SMART system to make improvements to satisfy federal Positive Train Control requirements. It will install Enhanced Automatic Train Control (E-ATC) communications and train control systems, as well as integrate new grade crossing warning systems on the 2.1-mile passenger rail extension between Downtown San Rafael and Larkspur.

"This grant will continue our investment in the highest level of safety, as we begin the design and implementation of our next phase to Larkspur,” said Judy Arnold, chair of the SMART Board of Directors, “We are grateful to Congressman Huffman and to FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg for all of their hard work and support."

SMART was established in 2003 to manage a publicly-owned railroad right-of-way and develop passenger rail service in Sonoma and Marin counties while allowing freight rail use of the tracks. Since 2012, SMART has been constructing a 43-mile, locally-funded commuter rail service that is expected to commence service by the end of the year.

Image via Congressman Jared Huffman/Flickr