SMART Rail & Pathway 
SMART Train & Pathway Update
April 30, 2013
Greetings!

This newsletter includes links to more details on our progress to date.  We hope you enjoy these updates -- and remember to Like Us on Facebook for ongoing updates and construction photos. 
Project News
Construction
16 miles of mainline track construction has been completed, with recent construction between 3rd St. and Guerneville Rd. in Santa Rosa, and from Cinnabar Bridge to Payran St. in Petaluma.
  
24 grade crossings have been replaced so far, including the most recent upgrade of the 8th St. crossing in Santa Rosa, where SMART coordinated with the City of Santa Rosa to perform sewer and utility improvements at the same time as our construction.
  
Station platform footings and walls are under construction at the Guerneville Rd. station site in Santa Rosa and are complete at Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park and downtown Santa Rosa.
  
  
  
Design, Engineering & Permits
Federal Environmental Clearance evaluation for the SMART Pathway is ongoing.  This includes conducting habitat and critical species studies.
  
Design continues on the section of Pathway from Civic Center Dr. to Smith Ranch Rd. in San Rafael -- this work utilizes Bay Trail funding.
  
The SMART team has completed several project tours with key resource agencies: Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, U.S. Marine Fisheries, California Fish & Wildlife, California Regional Water Quality Control Board (both Region 1 and Region 2 offices).
  
The Army Corps of Engineers recently issued SMART a Wetlands permit, which authorizes work in sensitive wetland and creek areas with the appropriate protective measures.  This permit can be described as a sort of 'master' permit that other smaller permits rely on.  This is a significant milestone and the culimination of a process that SMART began with the Army Corps over a year ago.
  
Systems & Vehicles
SMART's train seats passed the tests required to meet Federal Railroad Administration safety requirements for energy absorption during a collision. These tests are conducted dynamically, with the test equipment accelerating the seats and instrumented "occupants" to a force equivalent to a low-speed train collision. 
  
Seats for SMART's trains will enter production and be complete in 2-3 months to be on hand for installation in the weeks before the pilot train set is shipped in early 2014.
  
Funding
At its March 12 meeting, the board of the Sonoma County Transportation Authority approved a recommendation to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to program an additional $1.33 million in federal funds for construction of the SMART Pathway between East Cotati Ave. and Southwest Blvd. in Rohnert Park.  MTC will consider all county-level programming actions for these funds in Spring/Summer 2013.
  
For more updates, see the General Manager's report from the April SMART board meeting.
SMART Annual Report - Fiscal Year 2011-12
SMART has two reports that are useful in understanding the agency's financials each year: An audited Annual Financial Statement that provides an overview of our financial activities and assets, and our Measure Q Program Annual Report, which is designed to give the public a more detailed report on our spending by activity.
  
This report is prepared following the annual audit in order to incorporate any auditor adjustments, and was delivered publicly at the April 17 SMART board meeting.
Rail Safety Tips
No Tresspass Sign Did you know? It is illegal to walk, jog, bike or play on the tracks, or to be on the right of way anywhere other than at a designated railroad crossing.  Besides being subject to fines, trespassers enganger their lives, and the lives of others.
  
Work trains and construction equipment are operating on the tracks at all times of day during our construction phase. In addition, freight operations resumed on the shared rail line last year.  This is an active rail line -- always expect a train!
  
SMART is working in partnership with Operation LIfesaver, a national non-profit dedicated to rail safety education. The national Operation LIfesaver website contains a wealth of resources and information on rail safety for a variety of ages and audiences.
  
You can also request a safety presentation for your group or organization through the California Operation Lifesaver website.
Walk Bike Ride Logo 
In This Issue
Quick Links
Find Us on Facebook   
Event Calendar
Look for SMART at these upcoming events:
 
15th Annual Senior Expo of Santa Rosa - May 4
 
Tour of Novato - May 4
 
Cinco de Mayo,
Santa Rosa - May 5
 
International Level Crossing Awareness Day, Santa Rosa Junior College - May 7
 
Bike to Work Day,
Santa Rosa - May 11
SMART in the News
SMART Rail Car Seats Pass Safety Tests
Article
  
Q&A with SMART's General Manager
Article
SMART Logo  
Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit | info@sonomamarintrain.org | http://www.sonomamarintrain.org
5401 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 200
Petaluma, CA 94955


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