FTA awards $22.5 million grant to SMART for commuter-rail extension

The Federal Transit Administration has awarded a $22.5 million grant to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) for a 2.1-mile extension of the Larkspur commuter-rail line.

The new line will run from downtown San Rafael, California, to the Golden Gate Transit Larkspur Ferry terminal in Marin County, California. The extension will serve as an alternative to travel on U.S. Highway 101, FTA officials said in a press release.

"This project will provide an important multimodal connection to transit services for those trying to reach their jobs, schools, and homes," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. "FTA is committed to modernizing these connections to improve safety and reliability for all users."

SMART obtained the grant through the FTA's Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, which provides funding for major transit capital infrastructure investments across the United States.

Projects accepted into the program must go through a multiyear process to be eligible for funding.

SMART began operating in August 2017.