Politics & Government

SMART Construction Starts This Month

Rohnert Park can expect construction-related noise and dust, officials said. Rail authorities are holding a public meeting Tuesday, April 10 — the public is invited to bring any concerns, questions or comments.

Planners for Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit announced today that construction for the first phase of the 70-mile train route, from Santa Rosa to San Rafael, will begin April 27.

Expect construction-related disruptions in the towns with SMART stations () — such as noise and dust.

The segment to be constructed in the first phase, which SMART calls "the backbone of the system," includes rebuilding the existing railroad track with new rail ties and track switches, repairing or replacing 20 bridges, making improvements to grade crossings, and building concrete platform shells and train stations between the future North Santa Rosa station on Guerneville Road and the Marin Civic Center.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The SMART board approved in January a $103 million contract for the construction of the rail project between Santa Rosa and San Rafael. Stacy and Witbeck Inc., of Alameda, and Herzog Contracting Corp., of St. Joseph, Mo., will design and build the 38.5-mile first phase of the project between Santa Rosa and the Marin Civic Center.

In December, SMART completed the sale of $191 million in multi-modal rate bonds to fund construction of the commuter-rail line and a bicycle trail that voters in California’s Marin and Sonoma counties approved in 2008. The bond sale will net SMART $171 million that will help buy trains and build the rail line, bridges, crossings and train stations, officials said.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

SMART officials are holding a public meeting Tuesday, April 10 to field questions, comments and concerns from the public. If you go: Sheppard Elementary, Santa Rosa. Go to the large gym. Meeting begins at 7 p.m. Address is 1777 West Ave., Santa Rosa, off of Sebastopol Road. For more information, contactn Matt Stevens at 707-521-0700.

-Bay City News contributed to this report.


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