This blog post digs into a citizen-led measure in Marin and Sonoma counties. The measure would extend the quarter-cent sales tax that funds the SMART rail system for another 30 years. It got enough signatures to land on the June ballot. What could this mean for Marin communities—San Rafael, Novato, Sausalito, Larkspur—and for Windsor, Healdsburg, and Cloverdale up in Sonoma County?
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Overview: what the measure aims to do
The initiative would keep the current quarter-cent sales tax for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) district, but stretch the expiration out by 30 more years. Without this, the tax sunsets in 2029.
Because citizens led this measure, it only needs a simple majority to pass. If the SMART Board had put it forward, it would’ve needed two-thirds. So, voters in Marin and Sonoma get to decide if they want to keep backing SMART at the same rate for decades ahead.
Funding scope and intended outcomes
The extension would cover operating and maintenance costs for SMART’s passenger rail and its bike-pedestrian pathways. It would also help pay for planned expansions and act as a local match for about $510 million in capital projects.
Key goals? Keep current service levels and push forward with improvements across Marin’s towns and Sonoma’s wine country corridors.
- Operating and maintenance for SMART rail service and pathway networks
- Completion of planned expansions to improve regional connectivity
- Local funding match for about $510 million in capital projects
Ballot status, signatures, and what happened behind the scenes
Marin County supervisors agreed to put the initiative on the ballot, and Sonoma County did the same in March. Organizers turned in about 57,418 valid signatures—more than the 53,869 required—out of 71,847 submitted across both counties.
Because citizens led the effort, only a simple majority is needed to pass. This has become a headline story in Marin towns like San Rafael, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Sausalito, Corte Madera, Larkspur, and Novato, plus the Sonoma communities along the SMART corridor.
What city and town leaders are saying
Local officials in Marin call this a practical way to keep mobility options alive for communities counting on SMART for both commuting and recreation. Mary Sackett, Marin Supervisor and SMART board vice chair, pointed out that SMART carried over a million riders and a million pathway users in FY2025. That’s a lot of people—from students in San Anselmo and Fairfax to seniors in Ross and downtown San Rafael.
SMART’s current footprint and future buildouts
Right now, SMART runs a roughly 48-mile rail line from Windsor in Sonoma County to Larkspur in Marin. The system sits on more than 70 miles of railroad right-of-way.
Long-term plans include extending service to Healdsburg and Cloverdale. Since Measure Q passed in 2008, SMART has brought in about $735 million in outside grants. That’s helped connect Marin’s urban cores with Sonoma’s rural towns.
Why this matters for Marin and North Bay traffic
Supporters say extending the tax would help cut down on traffic along the crowded U.S. Highway 101 corridor. SMART offers a reliable alternative and a connected network of bike and pedestrian paths.
In busy areas like Sausalito, Tiburon, and Mill Valley, riders already use SMART for both weekend trips and weekday commutes. Supporters believe the extra funding would keep that going and help avoid future service slowdowns in the Marin-Sonoma corridor.
What voters will see in the June primary
The June 2 ballot will include statewide and congressional races, plus the SMART extension measure. Ballots are set to be mailed May 4.
This is a big test for Marin’s primary voters as they decide whether to keep funding SMART’s rail and trail network for the next generation. Communities from San Rafael to Windsor, Novato to Healdsburg, will be paying close attention as county boards finalize the ballot and local campaigns ramp up.
Key takeaways for residents of Marin and Sonoma counties
- The extension keeps the tax rate unchanged. It pushes the end date out 30 years past 2029.
- A simple majority decides this one. It’s a winner-take-all call for the region’s rail-and-path network.
- Funding would go toward operations and maintenance. It also helps with expansions and matching capital projects.
- Riders and the community depend on steady, reliable service. Less highway congestion is a big hope here.
- Ballots go out May 4. The statewide primary lands on June 2.
Here is the source article for this story: SMART decision: North Bay voters to consider a 30-year extension for rail system sales tax
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