SMART Awards Construction Contract for Healdsburg Extension
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
SMART Rail Transit
PETALUMA, Calif. - Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) has awarded the construction contract for the Healdsburg extension.
According to the release, construction of the extension is expected to begin in January 2026. The extension will be delivered via a multiphase process. The first phase award is $21.7 million, with a total secured amount of $269 million from federal, state, and local sources. Work will take place from Windsor through Healdsburg and cover roughly 9 miles, according to SMART, and reconnect the city to regional rail service for the first time in years.
The construction contract was awarded to Stacy and Witbeck/Herzog Joint Venture to deliver said extension via a “Progressive Design-Build approach.” This approach integrates the design and construction to “accelerate delivery.” As reported, construction is set to begin early next year and be completed by the end of 2028. SMART says this construction contract “includes options to continue work north of Healdsburg” if it secures additional funding.
The project includes upgrades to infrastructure, including grade crossings, replacing or rehabilitating bridges, and installing train control, signaling, and communications systems. Once completed, the project will allow for better access to jobs for nearby residents.
SMART Board of Directors Chair Chris Coursey said, “SMART has been steadily working toward completing the northern extensions of our rail system, and this milestone shows how far that commitment has taken us. . . We have built real momentum, and moving into construction on the Heladsburg extension brings us another step closer to delivering the full vision of the SMART system for our communities.”
Stacy Witbeck/Herzog Project Sponsor Dan Elshire said, “The years SMART has spent thoughtfully planning and securing public funding will leave a lasting legacy, boosting tourism, providing Healdsburg’s workforce with reliable commutes, expanding access to recreational spots, and opening doors for future freight service. We’ve already rolled up our sleeves on this one – our team is local, our resources are in place, and we just want to help get this built right.”
SMART General Manager Eddy Cumins said, “This project has involved a great deal of coordination and planning, and reaching this milestone is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our entire SMART team. I want to sincerely thank our staff for their tireless work, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to delivering the northern extensions. Their determination has been the driving force behind our progress, and I could not be more proud of the team that is bringing passenger rail service to Healdsburg.”
