The lines formed dozens long, people queued up for free t-shirts, free hats, free route maps—and it was hard to tell which was the most popular giveaway.
The occasion, the official arrival of SMART to its new station in Windsor, was met by well over 1000 residents, neighbors and on-stage engineers and politicians who helped bring Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit service to what is now its northern terminus, the Town of Windsor.
The fact that it was Friday the 13th went unmentioned, the superstition lost in the glow of pride and satisfaction that the rail’s arrival released. For the 1,000-plus estimated people in attendance, the most important date on the calendar was the day that SMART arrived in Windsor. The first train pulled into the station on Saturday, May 31, though the robust welcome celebration was held last week.
The official greeting party, seated on the station platform to face the audience of Windsor locals and other train-curious attendees, was picked to include those who most helped to make the commuter train’s arrival possible—county supervisors, city council men and women, and state legislators and officers, including SMART’s executive director, Eddy Cumins.
Many of them graciously made it a point to thank the laborers who did the actual work on the rails, including some second- and third-generation railway workers.
Unavoidable topics
One of the most significant advocates, Mike McGuire, was not present—McGuire has been an advocate for regional transportation since his days on the Healdsburg City Council 21 years ago. News reports said he was still in Sacramento in his role as President Pro Tempore of the State Senate, during a period of rising political tensions.
The political situation received occasional mention—the current chairman of the SMART Board of Directors, Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey, observed that “democracy walks a tightrope” in his opening comments.
But it was all good vibes, free food, sodas and other giveaways (over 1,000 commemorative t-shirts were distributed) as cheers and shout-outs erupted at the Windsor station. It’s located in a shopping complex anchored by the original Windsor Depot—in disuse since the last Western Pacific train retired in 1967—which has been remodeled by the city’s Chamber of Commerce at Windsor Road and Emily Rose Circle, near the roundabout at Windsor River Road.
Perhaps unavoidably, train metaphors were rampant. State Assemblyman Damon Connolly said the project was “on track” to reach Healdsburg in 2028; his fellow assembly member Chris Rogers thanked Cumings for giving SMART a “kick in the caboose” when he arrived in 2022.
The theme reached an apex, or its nadir, when County Supervisor James Gore referenced a number of train songs, and attempted to sing “Love Train” to a mixed response.
Gore also proposed that the event should be hailed as Deb Fudge Day, in honor of the recently retired Windsor council member and mayor who advocated for and drove Windsor’s inclusion in SMART’s plans from the beginning.
When it was her turn to speak, Fudge could not contain her clear happiness that the SMART dream had come to pass. “Because the train stops within visual sight of our downtown, businesses have told me their sales were up 50% just in the first week alone … . That’s what a train can do for a city.”
Then, putting down her prepared speech, she looked at the audience. “Are you listening, Healdsburg?”
Slow Train Coming
A common theme found in most of the remarks was that SMART’s next stop is Healdsburg. One of the two banners on the platform said as much: “Next stops, Healdsburg and Cloverdale!” However recent news reports that said an $81million state grant for those northern legs had been approved were premature: As a final step, the California Transportation Commission is scheduled to consider this recommended award at its June 26-27 meeting in Sacramento.
“Northern Sonoma County is an important part of the Bay Area and extending our rail and pathway to Healdsburg and the Alexander Valley will connect people to jobs and grow regional tourism-supported industries,” said Corsey, the current chair of the SMART Board of Directors. “We look forward to delivering this critical project by 2028, extending on the huge success of our Windsor Station opening just a week ago.”
The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District promises that SMART’s northern extension will “reduce congestion on major roads like Highway 101, offer safe and reliable alternative travel choice, foster economic growth by bringing more tourists to the region, and improve access to jobs, education, and healthcare.” It also says it meets regional environmental goals by “offering a low-emission travel option and bolstering resilience through expanded broadband access for public use and emergency response.”
In the Healdsburg City Council meeting on the following Monday, June 16, two of the council members who attended the Windsor opening vowed that when SMART does come to town, the party Healdsburg throws will exceed that which Windsor held.
That remains to be seen. In Windsor, new large signage points the way to “Downtown Windsor,” making it clear that restaurants, tasting rooms and other businesses, as well as the Town Green, lie within easy walking distance of the station.
However, the Healdsburg City Council earlier this year reaffirmed its commitment to the old Northwest Pacific Rail depot on Hudson Street as the location for the new SMART station. A proposal to relocate the platform to the downtown area, either south of North or north of North along Foss Creek and Vine Street, was not accepted.
Such a location would indeed place a new SMART platform within easy walking distance of the Healdsburg Plaza and other downtown businesses. Whether or not that commitment to the Harmon Street depot will once again be revisited remains to be seen, though time is running out.
If the California Transportation Commission does approve the latest $81 million award, construction could begin as early as spring 2026, with project completion planned by the end of 2028.
An online train of information can be found at sonomamarintrain.org.
