Vote yes on Measure B to sustain and expand North Bay train service

Seamless Bay Area and Transbay Coalition strongly endorse Measure B, The SMART Initiative, in the June 2026 Primary.

Measure B extends the existing 0.25% sales tax to fund operations, maintenance, and the expansion of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Train (SMART) through 2060. This is important as the initial SMART ballot measure approved by voters, Measure Q (2008), is set to expire in 2029.

If Measure B does not pass, North Bay residents will have substantially worse rail service, be forced to abandon future expansions of the system, and face more traffic congestion on Highway 101.

 

Source: MTC

 

Details of The SMART Initiative

If approved by voters, the Measure B is anticipated to generate approximately $51 million annually to:

  • Continue providing existing regional rail service.

  • Complete the planned rail and pathway expansion to Healdsburg and Cloverdale.

  • Continue discount programs for seniors, students, essential workers, and low-income households.

  • Work towards developing a new East/West alignment that would likely service Napa and Solano Counties. 

  • Improve travel time and reliability. 

  • Maintain and modernize SMART's infrastructure.

A vital regional rail system

SMART has been a gamechanger for the North Bay, with over 124,000 trips in March 2026, a 32% growth from 2025 and 115% over March 2019. 

Every person on SMART (about 4,400 weekday riders) means less congestion on Highway 101 and less greenhouse gas emissions. High-quality and fast rail service also means greater mobility for people who live and work in the North Bay.

 

Source: Sonoma Marin Area Rapid Transit

 

And with SMART's success, the North Bay is doubling down on its role as the backbone of North-South transit service. The MASCOTS Plan, implemented in April of this year, increased SMART service by 20% on weekdays, 50% on weekends, and with trains operating earlier and later in the day all week.

This is important as SMART serves as a vital link to local bus service throughout Marin and Sonoma Counties and to regional bus and ferry service to San Francisco. 

 

SMART, like many other transit systems, is vital for making getting around the Bay Area more affordable, especially at a time of high gas prices and the high-cost of car ownership. SMART riders make less money when compared to the Bay Area average, a trend seen across most transit (Source: MTC 2023-2024 Regional Transit Passenger Snapshot Survey).

 

SMART has been a massive success with millions of trips served and helping create a North Bay where more people can get around in an accessible, fast, affordable, climate-friendly, and more equitable manner. And now we have the opportunity to continue funding North Bay train service and paving the way for future expansions to the north and east.

Seamless Bay Area and Transbay Coalition, strongly encourage you to vote yes on Measure B this June.

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Kaleo Mark