Rails with trails ( RWT ) are a small subset of rail trails in which a railway right-of-way remains in use by trains yet also has a parallel recreational trail . Hundreds of kilometers of RWTs exist in Canada, Europe, the United States, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.
94-592: Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit ( SMART ) is a rail line and bicycle-pedestrian pathway project in Sonoma and Marin counties of the U.S. state of California . When completed, the entire system will serve a 70-mile (110 km) corridor between Cloverdale in northern Sonoma County and Larkspur Landing in Marin County. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 749,700, or about 3,400 per weekday as of
188-544: A 2013 report from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy finding only one record of a fatality involving a rail-with-trail user and a train, and just two reports of injury, during a 20-year period in the United States. A 1997 study of the feasibility of rails with trails identified a need for guidelines concerning RWT crossings, fencing, setbacks, and other items. These guidelines were developed in
282-566: A bridge toll, was temporarily suspended in 2021. The lawsuit was dismissed in January 2023, freeing up $ 40 million for SMART, and the agency received a $ 34 million state grant in February. At that time, SMART intended to wait until June 2023 to determine whether it would have sufficient funding to combine a further extension to Healdsburg with the completion of the Windsor extension. If
376-612: A cost of $ 46.7 million, or $ 6.67 million for each two-car set. They were delivered to Rochelle, Illinois , for assembling, and then sent to the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado , for testing. Under the contract, additional railcars may be ordered at a cost of $ 2.9 million per individual car. The first trainset arrived in Cotati, California , on April 7, 2015. The original order
470-563: A daily fare of $ 15 is reached (the maximum round-trip fare), no additional fares will be assessed for further travel that day. Transfers from Santa Rosa CityBus, Sonoma County Transit, Petaluma Transit, and Golden Gate Transit will receive a $ 1.50 reduction in fare per transfer ($ 0.75 for discounted tickets). A specialty Discount Clipper card or the SMART phone app, can be used for discounted fares of up to 50% for children, senior citizens , low income, and persons with disabilities. The Discounted fare
564-589: A diesel engine used in the near-identical Nippon Sharyo diesel multiple unit trains operating in Toronto necessitated all of SMART's cars to be recalled for crank replacements, according to SMART management. The agency additionally had been experiencing problems with warning systems at some grade crossings, and had not fully completed its approval process with the Federal Railroad Administration . The 2017 California floods caused damage to
658-450: A female householder with no husband present, 3,615 (5.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 5,020 (7.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 757 (1.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 18,021 households (28.3%) were made up of individuals, and 7,474 (11.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59. There were 39,231 families (61.7% of all households);
752-474: A joint venture of Stacy and Witbeck and Herzog Contracting Corporation at a cost of $ 36.3 million, and work commenced by late 2017 with an expected opening of late 2019. In April 2018, SMART was awarded a $ 22.5 million federal grant for the extension. Final costs for the extension are estimated to total $ 55.4 million. Train control and crossing system testing along the extension began in August 2019 and
846-438: A local source for potential future mitigation needs for the rail and pathway project.” The project is funded by federal, state, regional and local allocations including bridge tolls, dedicated sales tax revenues, and fares. The capital cost of track rehabilitation for the full 70-mile line, signals, railcars, etc. was estimated to be about $ 450 million in 2008 ($ 637 million adjusted for inflation). By 2019, development of
940-651: A major center for civil defense activity (under the Office of Emergency Planning and the Office of Emergency Preparedness) until 1979 when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was created in its place, ending the civil defense's 69-year history. When the City Council adopted the city's first modern General Plan in 1991, the population was about 113,000. In the 21 years following 1970, Santa Rosa grew by about 3,000 residents
1034-518: A small minority of rails with trails being 4 miles (6.4 km) long. As of 2018, there were 343 identified rails with trails in the United States, comprising 917 miles of rails-with-trails in 47 states. By comparison, there are currently 2,404 open rail-trails across the United States comprising a total of 25,723 miles along with 867 rail-trail projects planned for an additional total of 9,147 miles. United States rails with trails with articles on Misplaced Pages: Rails with trails are considered safe, with
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#17327724750241128-469: A state, Santa Rosa grew steadily, though it lagged behind nearby Petaluma in the 1850s and early 1860s. In the 1870 census , Santa Rosa was the eighth-largest city in California, and county seat of one of the most populous counties in the state. Growth and development after that was steady but never rapid. The city continued to grow when other early population centers declined or stagnated, but by 1900 it
1222-423: A year—triple the average growth during the previous twenty years. Santa Rosa 2010 , the 1991 General Plan, called for a population of 175,000 in 2010. The Council expanded the city's urban boundary to include all the land then planned for future annexation, and declared it would be Santa Rosa's "ultimate" boundary. The rapid growth that was being criticized as urban sprawl became routine infill development. At
1316-405: Is $ 0.75 plus $ 0.75 per zone A monthly pass is also sold for $ 135 ($ 67.50 for eligible riders) which grants the bearer 31 days of unlimited travel from the date of first use. A Special Weekender Pass is offered on Saturdays for $ 10 ($ 5 for eligible riders) that offers unlimited rides for the day. Parking is $ 2 daily or $ 20 for a monthly pass at stations, with no overnight parking. SMART train service
1410-639: Is a city in and the county seat of Sonoma County , in the North Bay region of the Bay Area in California . Its population as of the 2020 census was 178,127. It is the largest city in California's Wine Country and Redwood Coast . It is the fifth most populous city in the Bay Area after San Jose , San Francisco , Oakland , and Fremont ; and the 25th-most populous city in California. Before
1504-532: Is land and 0.205 sq mi (0.5 km ), comprising 0.49%, is water. The city is part of the North Bay region, which includes such cities as Petaluma , Rohnert Park , Windsor , and smaller cities as Sonoma , Healdsburg , Sebastopol . It lies along the US Route 101 corridor, approximately 55 miles (89 km) north of San Francisco , via the Golden Gate Bridge . Santa Rosa lies on
1598-619: Is slightly lower than the rate of California (411.1 per 100,000 people) and higher than that of the entire U.S. (386.3 per 100,000 people). 2021 and especially its late spring and summer saw an increase in shootings, violence, homicides, drug, gang, and homeless-related crimes. The increase was up to double for some crimes and problems, compared to the previous several years. There are at least 2,700 homeless people in Sonoma County. Around 1,500 are in Santa Rosa, about one percent of
1692-485: The Dubai Tramway that connects stations with Jumeirah Beach and various residential areas. In 2000, there were 1,000 rail trails in operation nationwide, comprising a total length of about 17,750 km /11,029 mi. Only 60 (387 km/240 mi) were rails with trails, up from 37 (246 km/152 mi) in 1996. Thus, on average United States rail trails in 2000 were 11 miles (18 km) long with
1786-523: The FRA for passenger services with grade crossings, was implemented for the length of the service corridor for customer and pedestrian safety. The Northwestern Pacific Railroad corridor is also used by North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) freight services. Freight operator NWP Co began to serve businesses along the SMART right-of-way between Lombard (at the Napa River ) and Windsor in 2011. SMART absorbed
1880-611: The Netherlands feature bicycle trails and tracks for trams located side-by-side. And in England and Switzerland , there are also rural routes where intercity trains run parallel to multiuse trails. While the United Arab Emirates does not have a large number of railroads, rails with trails do exist along rail transit corridors. The Roads and Transport Authority maintains a nine-kilometer bicycle trail alongside
1974-738: The Puerto Suello Hill Tunnel , further delaying testing of the line. Preview service and excursion trips timed with the Marin County Fair began on June 29, 2017, with free fares as far south as Marin Civic Center. Full service commenced on August 25, 2017. The cost to San Rafael of the Andersen Drive crossing of the Larkspur to San Rafael segment is significant. The street was extended by San Rafael in
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#17327724750242068-652: The Russian River . The population increased by two-thirds between 1950 and 1970, an average of 1,000 new residents a year over the 20-year period. Some of the increase was from annexation of portions of the surrounding area. In 1958, the United States Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization designated Santa Rosa as one of its eight regional headquarters, with jurisdiction over Region 7, which included American Samoa , Arizona , California , Guam , Hawaii , Nevada , and Utah . Santa Rosa continued as
2162-842: The State Route 37 corridor. Not being member counties of the Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit District, a new funding mechanism would have to be established before service commenced. This line would allow the train to connect with the passenger ferry in Vallejo or the Amtrak station in Suisun City . As of 2018, planners expect this rail link to be reactivated for service after 2040, and the 2019 study expected construction time between four and six years. Estimated at $ 1 billion, work on this link would not begin until after
2256-595: The Tubbs Fire , a 45,000-acre wildfire that claimed the lives of at least 19 people in Sonoma County. Named after its origin near Tubbs Lane and Highway 128 in adjacent Napa County, the fire became a major section of the most destructive and third deadliest firestorm in California history. Most homes in the Coffey Park, Larkfield-Wikiup , and Fountain Grove neighborhoods were destroyed. A notable exception to
2350-602: The Union Pearson Express in Toronto , Ontario, Canada, are slope-nosed and self-propelled by diesel engines that meet stringent "Tier 4" EPA requirements. For regular service, SMART runs DMUs in pairs or triplicate. Trains may be as long as station platforms provided there are cabs facing the outer ends. Each two-car train has room for over 300 passengers. The diesel multiple unit trainsets were ordered from Sumitomo Corporation of America / Nippon Sharyo at
2444-568: The United States Geological Survey released a map detailing the results of a new tool that measures ground shaking during an earthquake. The map determined that the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was most powerful in an area between Santa Rosa and what is now Sebastopol , causing more damage in Santa Rosa (for its size) than any other city affected. On October 1, 1969, two earthquakes of magnitudes 5.6 and 5.7 shook Santa Rosa, damaging about 100 structures. They were
2538-468: The 1830s, Spanish and Mexican settlers from nearby Sonoma and other settlements to the south were known to raise livestock in the area. They slaughtered animals at the fork of the Santa Rosa Creek and Matanzas Creek , near the intersection of modern-day Santa Rosa and Sonoma avenues. This is thought to have been the origin of the name of Matanzas Creek; because it was a slaughtering place,
2632-474: The 2/3 supermajority needed for passage, that measure failed. Measure Q, similar to Measure R, was approved on November 4, 2008. It received a combined vote of 69.5% in the two counties (73.5% approval in Sonoma County and 62.6% in Marin County). It provides funding for the project through a quarter-cent sales tax in both counties set to expire in 2029. This funding was initially thought sufficient to bring
2726-801: The 43-mile (69 km) Initial Operating Segment (IOS) between Airport Blvd Santa Rosa and the Civic Center Station in San Rafael at a cost less than originally budgeted. The segment was completed jointly by Stacy & Witbeck and Herzog Contracting Corp. In 2012, SMART announced that it was adding two stations to the Initial Operation Segment: in north Santa Rosa, near Coddingtown , and in Novato at Atherton Avenue. The Puerto Suello Hill Tunnel in San Rafael
2820-541: The Hispanic population, 98% of Santa Rosa is Mexican , 0.8% Salvadoran , and 0.4% Puerto Rican . The Census reported that 164,405 people (98.0% of the population) lived in households, 1,697 (1.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1,713 (1.0%) were institutionalized. There were 63,590 households, out of which 20,633 (32.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 27,953 (44.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 7,663 (12.1%) had
2914-472: The Marin County Fair. Until 2017, the Sonoma Raceway operated a race-day excursion service that used right-of-way owned by SMART, though not on the mainline tracks and using Amtrak equipment. A minimal platform had been constructed nearby. SMART was the first Bay Area transit agency to match its pre-pandemic ridership; 2023 ridership of 750,016 was 4% above 2019 ridership. However, daily ridership
Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit - Misplaced Pages Continue
3008-623: The Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Plan Bay Area 2050. The SMART District provides passenger service on the historic Northwestern Pacific right-of-way , which roughly parallels US Highway 101 and is owned by the SMART District from Healdsburg to Larkspur. There are 24 bridges in the segment from San Rafael to Santa Rosa, as well as 63 at grade crossings (with the possibility of adding more). A positive train control system, as mandated by
3102-547: The NWP operations in 2020. In December 2014, rains washed away some of the train track beds near Petaluma at Ely Road. A photo of the spot in December showed the tracks hidden beneath feet of water. A spokesperson for SMART said that "Trains are not running yet, so this is something we will pay attention to." In 2021, the agency was awarded a grant to help fund improvements in freight infrastructure, including new sidings and repairing
3196-640: The SMART board approved a resolution designating the San Rafael to Larkspur link as its "preferred alternative". The agency submitted a letter to the Federal Transit Administration , and on September 24, 2013, SMART was accepted into its "Small Starts" program. The FY2016 Federal Budget included the funds to construct the Larkspur Extension under the Small Starts Program. Construction contracts were awarded to
3290-417: The SMART eTickets mobile app . There are five zones in the initial opening segment which will expand to seven when service to Cloverdale is established. Zone ticketing requires little infrastructure at the stations but can be expensive for passengers making a short trip that crosses a zone boundary. Fares start at $ 1.50 for a ride within one zone, with an additional $ 1.50 added for entering each new zone. Once
3384-817: The Santa Rosa Plain. The city's eastern extremities stretch into the Valley of the Moon, and the Sonoma Creek watershed known as the Sonoma Valley . The city's western edge lies in the Laguna de Santa Rosa catchment basin. The city is in the watershed of Santa Rosa Creek , which rises on Hood Mountain and discharges to the Laguna de Santa Rosa. Tributary basins to Santa Rosa Creek lying significantly in
3478-557: The agency acquired control of freight operations along the line from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad . The $ 4 million purchase of rolling stock, track rights, and other properties was funded by the state. The agency took ownership of freight operations and 21 miles (34 km) of trackage north of Healdsburg in July 2021. Sunday service resumed on May 1, 2022. By 2018, the three-mile (4.8 km) extension
3572-484: The arrival of Europeans, initially Spanish explorers and colonists, the Pomos were decimated by violence, land theft, slavery, genocide and smallpox brought from Europe. Social displacement and disruption followed. There are descendants of survivors still living in the region today. Santa Rosa was founded in 1833 and named by Mexican colonists after Saint Rose of Lima . The first known permanent European settlement here
3666-499: The arrival of Europeans, what became known as the Santa Rosa Plain was home to a strong and populous tribe of Pomo people known as the Bitakomtara. The Bitakomtara controlled the area closely, barring passage to others until permission was arranged. Those who entered without permission were subject to harsh penalties. The tribe gathered at ceremonial times on Santa Rosa Creek near present-day Spring Lake Regional Park . Following
3760-655: The average family size was 3.18. In terms of age cohorts, there were 39,217 people (23.4%) under the age of 18, 15,982 people (9.5%) aged 18 to 24, 46,605 people (27.8%) aged 25 to 44, 43,331 people (25.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 22,680 people (13.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males. There were 67,396 housing units at an average density of 1,624.0 units per square mile (627.0 units/km ), of which 34,427 (54.1%) were owner-occupied, and 29,163 (45.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate
3854-586: The bridge over the Petaluma River . SMART acquired 88 miles (142 km) of right-of-way from NCRA in March 2021, with operating rights transferred on July 26, 2021. NWP continued operating freight service under contract. Many of the station platforms are located near historic depots in city centers. However, SMART does not directly use these, and all stops use newly constructed 48-inch (120 cm) high-floor platforms to allow level boarding onto and off of
Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit - Misplaced Pages Continue
3948-489: The center. This pattern has been largely maintained in downtown to this day, despite changes to the central square, now called Old Courthouse Square. In 1867, the county recognized Santa Rosa as an incorporated city; in 1868, the state officially confirmed the incorporation, making it the third incorporated city in Sonoma County after Petaluma , incorporated in 1858, and Healdsburg , incorporated in 1867. United States Census Bureau records show that after California became
4042-426: The city are Brush Creek , Matanzas Creek , and Piner Creek . Other water bodies within the city include Fountaingrove Lake , Lake Ralphine , and Santa Rosa Creek Reservoir . The prominent visual features east of the city include Bennett Peak , Mount Hood , and Sonoma and Taylor mountains . Santa Rosa has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen Csb ) with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. In
4136-1139: The city was $ 50,931, and the median income for a family was $ 59,659. Males had a median income of $ 40,420 versus $ 30,597 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 24,495. 8.5% of the population and 5.1% of families were below the poverty line . Out of the total population, 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and 4.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Neighborhoods such as South Park in south Santa Rosa, Corby Avenue, and Roseland, West Ninth District, and Apple Valley in west Santa Rosa, are most vulnerable to criminal activity. Acts of crime in these neighborhoods are commonly burglaries, graffiti, and violent gang activity. Street gangs such as Sureños and Norteños have large concentrations throughout Santa Rosa. There are multiple other gangs, including mostly racially based gangs or racially mixed that commit theft, street and violent crimes, motorcycle gangs , white supremacist gangs, and prison gangs. In 2011, there were 5 homicides, 58 rapes, 134 robberies, 485 aggravated assaults, and 637 burglaries. The violent crime rate for Santa Rosa (401.7 per 100,000 people)
4230-405: The city's population did not greatly suffer. However, after that period the population growth of Santa Rosa, as with most of the area, was very slow. Santa Rosa grew following World War II because it was the location for Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Santa Rosa , the remnants of which are now located in southwest Santa Rosa. The city was a convenient location for San Francisco travelers bound for
4324-974: The city, and divides it into east and west sides. State Route 12 runs roughly east–west, and divides the city into north and south sides. Neighborhoods , including both current ones and areas formerly known and named, include: The 2010 United States Census reported that Santa Rosa had a population of 167,815. The population density was 4,043.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,561.3/km ). The racial makeup of Santa Rosa was: 119,158 White (59.7% non-Hispanic white ), 4,079 (2.4%) African American , 2,808 (1.7%) Native American , 8,746 (5.2%) Asian (1.0% Filipino , 1.0% Chinese , 0.8% Vietnamese , 0.6% Indian , 0.5% Cambodian , 0.5% Laotian , 0.3% Japanese , 0.3% Korean , 0.1% Thai , 0.1% Nepalese ), 810 (0.5%) Pacific Islander (0.2% Fijian , 0.1% Samoan , 0.1% Hawaiian , 0.1% Guamanian ), 23,723 (14.1%) from other races , 8,491 (5.1%) from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47,970 persons (28.6%). Among
4418-650: The city, while foxes , and rabbits may be regularly seen in the more rural areas. In addition, the city borders and then wraps around the northern end of Trione Annadel State Park, which itself extends into the Sonoma Mountains and Sonoma Valley. Trione-Annadel State Park also adjoins Spring Lake County Park and Howarth Park, forming one contiguous park system that enables visitors to venture into wild native habitats. Santa Rosa can be seen as divided into four quadrants: Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest. U.S. Route 101 runs roughly north–south through
4512-625: The city. Downtown Santa Rosa, including its outskirts and the area south of the Santa Rosa Mall (Wilson and Morgan Street) and Mendocino Avenue area, South Park/Fairgrounds area, Santa Rosa Avenue, West Steele Lane, and the Joe Rodota Trail /Stony Point districts and neighborhoods have been concentrations of homeless people since the 2000s. Homeless services can be found in the Wilson Street area. Forbes Magazine ranked
4606-514: The complete parallel pedestrian and bicycle path. Scheduled passenger service, already delayed from an originally estimated 2014, had long been expected for late 2016. This resulted from lack of tax revenues due to the economic downturn, which also led to the project opening in phases. As late 2016 approached, the agency further delayed opening the IOS between Northern Santa Rosa and Downtown San Rafael until "late spring 2017." A crankshaft failure on
4700-490: The confluence came to be called La Matanza. By the 1850s, after the United States annexed California following its victory in the Mexican-American War , a Wells Fargo post and general store were established in what is now downtown Santa Rosa. In the mid-1850s, several prominent locals, including Julio Carrillo, son of Maria Carrillo, laid out the grid street pattern for Santa Rosa with a public square in
4794-469: The damage and plan for repairs. In the original sales tax expenditure plan, $ 90 million was allocated for a bike/pedestrian path along the line for recreation and to enhance connections between stations and the developing network of bicycle-pedestrian pathways. As a result of the Great Recession of 2008 , SMART changed its plans for the construction of the bicycle-pedestrian pathway as well as
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#17327724750244888-575: The destruction in the area was the protection of more than 1,000 animals at the renowned Safari West Wildlife Preserve northeast of Santa Rosa. All of the preserve's animals were saved by owner Peter Lang. At age 76, he single-handedly and successfully fought back the flames for more than 10 hours using garden hoses. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 41.50 sq mi (107.5 km ). Of that area, 41.29 sq mi (106.9 km )
4982-496: The driest from July 1976 to June 1977 with 13.06 inches (331.7 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 19.42 inches (493.3 mm) in February 1998 and the most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.23 inches (132.8 mm) on December 19, 1981. Measurable snowfall is extremely rare in the lowlands, but light amounts sometimes fall in the nearby mountains. There are an average of 28.9 afternoons with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or more and an average of 30.2 mornings with lows reaching
5076-403: The engines could be serviced to correct the problem. All trains were refurbished at SMART's rail center by April 2017. Four additional cars, numbered 115 through 118, were delivered to SMART in 2018. The four cars were damaged during shipping in a freight collision while en route to SMART. The agency did not accept the cars as delivered, and Nippon Sharyo dispatched a team to California to assess
5170-478: The estimated cost to complete the system to Cloverdale and Healdsburg was $ 364 million. A letter to the city of Healdsburg in 2020 estimated the cost of reconstructing the Russian River bridge, building a new station, and rehabilitating the line at $ 32 million. The 2018 California State Rail Plan based its projections on service to Cloverdale station by 2027. Work on the extension to Windsor, funded by
5264-518: The first five-year update of the plan, in 1996, the Council extended the planning period by ten years, renaming it Vision 2020 (updated to Santa Rosa 2020 , and then again to Santa Rosa 2030 Vision ), and added more land and population. Santa Rosa annexed the community of Roseland in November 2017. Beginning on the night of October 8, 2017, five percent of the city's homes were destroyed in
5358-692: The form of Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned , which finds that "well-designed RWTs meet the operational needs of railroads, often providing benefits in the form of reduced trespassing and dumping. A poorly designed RWT will compromise safety and function for both trail users and the railroad." A 1996 study of safety on rails with trails in the United States evaluated 37 existing RWTs in 16 states and concluded that "active railroad lines can function with an adjacent pedestrian, horse, and bike path without problem" and RWTs are "no more dangerous than rail-trails alone or next to busy streets." Santa Rosa, California Santa Rosa ( Spanish for " Saint Rose ")
5452-618: The freezing mark. The record high was 115 °F (46.1 °C) on September 6, 2022, and the record low was 9 °F (−12.8 °C) on December 25, 1924. Santa Rosa lies atop the Healdsburg-Rodgers Creek segment of the Hayward-Rodgers Creek Fault System . The Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities estimated a minimum 27 percent chance of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake on this segment by 2037. On November 21, 2005,
5546-579: The full $ 113 million in additional grants is received, Windsor service would begin in 2025 or 2026, and Healdsburg service by 2027. On July 5, 2023, a grant was awarded by the California Transportation Commission , funded by the Road Repair and Accountability Act also known as SB1. This grant awards SMART $ 30 million to fund extensions to Windsor and Healdsburg. Several services have been envisioned to expand
5640-687: The initial 70-mile (110 km) system was operational. Also proposed is extending SMART north beyond Cloverdale to Ukiah or the planned NWP terminus in Willits , where it would connect with the California Western Railroad and its tourist services. A proposal to expand service to the East Bay over a rebuilt Richmond–San Rafael Bridge was named a Finalist in the Transformative Projects Process of
5734-473: The initial operating segment (IOS) with five more in a second phase. A further station was added in Novato's downtown district late in construction of the IOS, and did not open with the system's inauguration. The SMART fleet consists of nine two-car Nippon Sharyo DMU trainsets. Each DMU car is powered by a Cummins QSK19-R diesel engine. The vehicles, designed specifically for SMART and another transit service,
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#17327724750245828-408: The length varies, most are relatively short compared to those in the United States, ranging from less than 100 meters long to several kilometers. Canadian rails with trails are frequently smaller segments of a longer trail, "with a rails-with-trails portion located on bridges, at choke points, and where the rail corridor was deemed the best alignment for a portion of a trail." Some urban bike paths in
5922-442: The line from Airport Boulevard in Santa Rosa to the San Rafael Transit Center totaled $ 448 million and the estimated cost to complete the legislated system had increased to $ 944 million. In November 2006, Measure R, a proposal for funding though an increase in sales taxes, received a combined 65.3% "yes" vote in the two-county District, with 70.1% in favor in Sonoma County and 57.5% in favor in Marin County. Because it lacked
6016-435: The line to completion by 2014. However, the economic downturn reduced the tax base, resulting in a plan to build the project in phases. The tax was expected to generate $ 890 million over its lifetime; the first decade brought in $ 289 million, well short of estimates. In March 2020, SMART went back to the voters with Measure I to extend the sales tax, not scheduled to expire until 2029, for an additional thirty years;
6110-493: The line was completed to Larkspur with service commencing on December 14, 2019. The last passenger rail service along the Northwestern Pacific Railroad south of Willits was discontinued in 1958 as automobile travel along U.S. Route 101 in California increased in popularity. The SMART District was established by state legislation in 2002. Previously disused station buildings were repaired in anticipation of reestablished rail service in Healdsburg and Windsor, and Cloverdale's depot
6204-426: The measure ultimately failed. The SMART Board authorized the sale of bonds in late 2011; proceeds were placed into an escrow account until the effort to repeal the sales tax was resolved. In May 2012, SMART issued nearly $ 200 million in bonds to fund construction. The bonds will be paid off with the Measure Q quarter-cent sales tax revenue. In January 2012, SMART completed final negotiations to start rebuilding
6298-431: The mid-1990s to cross the tracks on a "temporary road". In July 1997, the California Public Utilities Commission informed the city that by the time SMART planned to operate on the section, the city had to build and pay for restoring the crossing. The estimated cost for that was $ 6 million in 2012. In 2010, the agency received a federal earmark of $ 2.5 million for technical, environmental and engineering design on
6392-442: The most populous Chinese communities. As of the census of 2000, there were 63,153 households, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
6486-416: The order so SMART will receive two more full trainsets in place of the extra cars, bringing their fleet size to the required nine trainsets needed for service to Cloverdale. They will be painted in a McGlashan green livery . A July 2016 fire aboard one of Toronto's Nippon Sharyo units revealed a design flaw in the engine's crankshaft that would result in premature wear; SMART decided to delay operations until
6580-455: The rail project. Current SMART pathway construction focuses on bridging gaps between existing bicycle-pedestrian pathways, providing access to stations and serving potential high-use areas. A number of segments are being constructed in partnership with local jurisdictions. For example, SMART has obtained a grant for pathway construction in Rohnert Park and is seeking grants to fund additional segments. As of February 2019, 16.2 miles (26.1 km)
6674-412: The schedule, a train takes 1 hour 19 minutes to travel the 45 miles (72 km) route, an average of 34.1 miles per hour (54.9 km/h). As a Class 4 railroad, passenger speeds are limited to 79 miles per hour (127 km/h). The system operates with fare zones and a proof-of-payment system with the San Francisco Bay-area Clipper card serving as a payment method. Tickets may also be purchased using
6768-465: The segment. Later in 2010, the revamped California Park Tunnel — 30 feet (9.1 m) wide, 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, and 1,100 feet (340 m) long — was opened to pedestrian traffic. The revamping was done at a cost of $ 28 million, paid equally by Marin County and SMART. The tunnel is used both for the rail right of way between Larkspur and San Rafael and by bicycles and pedestrians. In May 2013,
6862-432: The strongest quakes to affect the city since 1906. The epicenters were about two miles (3.2 km) north of Santa Rosa. Due to its population, much of Santa Rosa's remaining undisturbed area is on its urban fringe. However, the principal wildlife corridors of Santa Rosa Creek and its tributaries flow right through the heart of the town. Great blue herons , great egrets , snowy egrets and black-crowned herons nest in
6956-496: The summer, fog and low overcast often move in from the Pacific Ocean during the evenings and mornings. They usually clear up to very warm, sunny weather by late morning or noon before returning in the later evening but will occasionally linger all day. Average annual rainfall is 32.20 inches (818 mm), falling on 74 days annually. The wettest “rain year” was from July 1982 to June 1983 with 55.66 inches (1,413.8 mm) and
7050-405: The system. Additional infill stations serving Santa Rosa or Fulton may be added in the future. In 2019, SMART released a study on the possibility of extending service along SMART (formerly NWP) owned and operated freight tracks between Ignacio and Schellville (near Sonoma ), into Napa or Solano counties. Funding for the study was provided by the state in response to chronic flooding along
7144-485: The system. Partial service as far north as Downtown Santa Rosa was established on October 30, and the following day full service was restored with free rides offered through November 6 to give transportation options to those affected by the Kincade Fire . According to Farhad Mansourian, the service disruptions had not impacted testing of the Larkspur extension and Downtown Novato station. Service gaps existed during
7238-531: The third quarter of 2024. The first phase of the system, a 43-mile (69 km) segment between Northern Santa Rosa and downtown San Rafael , opened to public preview and excursion services (as far south as Marin County Civic Center) on June 29, 2017. Regular service began on August 25, 2017, after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) gave the final approval for the positive train control (PTC) system. The southern two miles (3.2 km) of
7332-399: The train and provide accessibility . A gauntlet track is used at all stations north of the freight interchange at Ignacio to allow freight trains to pass while bringing passenger trains up to the platform edge. Stations typically include a small shelter with a peaked roof and a bench for seating; they also feature light poles, signs, and garbage cans. Original plans called for ten stations in
7426-530: The trees of the median strip on West Ninth Street as well as along Santa Rosa Creek and downtown. Deer often are spotted roaming the neighborhoods nearer the eastern hills, as deep into town as Franklin Avenue and the McDonald area; rafters of wild turkeys are relatively common in some areas; and mountain lions are occasionally observed within city limits. Raccoons and opossums are a common sight throughout
7520-804: The weekends of November 2019 between Petaluma to Novato–Hamilton as testing for the Downtown Novato station commenced. A bus bridge was provided from both stations with a transfer at San Marin. SMART initiated a schedule with 8 weekday round trips and no weekend service amid the COVID-19 pandemic . The agency planned to only resume 13 round trips on weekdays in an effort to lower costs with reduced ridership and an uncertain tax base. In May 2021, service increased to 13 weekday round trips and 6 Saturday round trips. In September 2021, after receiving $ 3.2 million in federal stimulus funds , SMART indicated it would restore pre-pandemic schedules in 2022. In May 2020,
7614-494: The western part of Santa Rosa. The highest percentage of Hispanic residents in Santa Rosa is in the Apple Valley Lane/Papago Court neighborhood, at 87%. The Southeast Asian communities, mainly Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian, are concentrated within the western Santa Rosa neighborhoods of Bellevue Ranch, Roseland, and West Steele areas. The northeast neighborhoods of Skyhawk and Fountaingrove have
7708-422: The “Mira Monte Marina.” The purpose of this purchase is to restore the area and preserve tidal wetlands and habitat, which is all a part of SMART's environmental mitigation program. According to SMART General Manager Farhad Mansourian, “This will not only address the 2.2 acres (8,900 m) of project impacts that were determined through the environmental review process for the next stage of construction, but ensures
7802-420: Was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%. 87,244 people (52.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 77,161 people (46.0%) lived in rental housing units. As of 2011 , there are an estimated 4,539 homeless people living in Sonoma County, many of whom live in Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa's Hispanic population, mainly of Mexican descent, while spread out through the city, is concentrated within
7896-407: Was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.14. In terms of age cohorts, 24.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.5% was from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males. The median income for a household in
7990-640: Was being overtaken by many other newer population centers in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. By 1900, the Pomo population had decreased by 95%. According to a 1905 article in the Press Democrat reporting on the "Battle of the Trains", the city had just over 10,000 people at the time. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake essentially destroyed the entire downtown, but
8084-523: Was completed by the end of October, whereupon driver training began. Revenue service commenced on December 14, 2019. Construction of the Novato Downtown station began significantly after work began on the initial operating segment. It was partially constructed by the system's opening, but the station opened with the Larkspur extension. Service was cancelled on October 28 and 29, 2019, due to preemptive power shutoffs affecting crossings throughout
8178-413: Was completed, with the majority of funding coming from local jurisdictions. Trains operate 19 round trips on weekdays. Southbound service begins at 4:30 A.M. with a final train at 6:37 P.M. while northbound service runs from 6:06 A.M. to 8:29 P.M. There are five round trips on weekends with the first train (southbound) departing at 7:35 A.M. and the final train (northbound) leaving at 6:39 P.M. According to
8272-467: Was constructed in 1998. Mitigation of environmental impacts was studied and summarized in a report issued in June 2006. The recommended remedies, which were certified without challenge, included silencing of some train horns in quiet zones and replacement of certain wetland ditches. On October 10, 2013, SMART announced that it had obtained more than 56 acres (0.23 km) of an area in Novato known as
8366-504: Was expected to cost $ 55 million: $ 20 million from Road Repair and Accountability Act funds, $ 30 million in Regional Measure 3 funds, and a $ 5 million federal grant. By November 2019, the cost estimate had increased to $ 65 million with construction starting in 2020. The route north of Santa Rosa to Cloverdale was intended to open with the initial segment, but lack of funding delayed this segment. By May 2019,
8460-433: Was for fourteen cars in seven two car trainsets, but on July 30, 2015, the state of California announced an $ 11 million grant to SMART to finance the purchase of three additional cars to be added to the fleet, allowing for three trainsets to be run with three cars, with an increase in capacity of 130 passengers over a two car trainset. In April 2016, SMART's general manager negotiated with CalSTA and Nippon Sharyo to adjust
8554-434: Was free of charge during the preview service period and the opening day of full service. After opening day, SMART fares were half price through Labor Day, September 4, 2017. Regular fares were charged beginning on September 5. The October 2017 Northern California wildfires and 2019 California wildfires prompted the agency to provide free limited service for evacuees. Excursion trains may be run for special events, such as
8648-464: Was rehabilitated for service and the 111-year old fixed span Haystack Bridge was replaced with a newer movable bascule bridge . Concrete ties were installed along the line to facilitate running up to 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) and several spur lines were removed to adhere to federal safety standards . Businesses may connect a switch and spur to the line by purchasing the equipment for about $ 300,000. The first phase of construction does not include
8742-563: Was still below the 5,100 originally projected. As of the third quarter of 2024, weekday ridership was 3,400. Rails with trails Rails with trails in Australia usually exist along publicly owned passenger railways outside of the larger cities. They are called "rail-side trails" and are built on railroad-owned land but managed by local government entities. Rails with trails exist in most provinces including Nova Scotia, Québec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. While
8836-580: Was the homestead of the Carrillo family of California , in-laws to Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo , who settled the Sonoma pueblo and Petaluma area. In the 1830s, during the Mexican period, the family of María López de Carrillo built an adobe house on their Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa land grant, just east of what later became downtown Santa Rosa. By the 1820s, before the Carrillos built their adobe in
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