Imagine a Highway 101, free of congested commute hours and rage-induced drivers, with a much easier drive into the city. Something is coming that might make this dream a reality; something that will take cars off the road and pollutants out of the air. That something is the new train line that will go from Sonoma to downtown San Rafael and the civic center. It is expected to be completed sometime in “late 2016.” This train will be called the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit, or SMART.

Voters approved initial funding for the motion in 2008, but the process has been slowed due to the lack of additional funding. In 2011, the project received $71 million in grants, but officials estimate that they may need up to $550 million to finish the project entirely. Despite the lofty amount, it would be the one of the least expensive transportation projects in California.

The length of the route spans from Cloverdale all the way to the ferry building in Larkspur. The fully planned tracks will cover about 85 miles, but it won’t be finished until the completion of “Phase 1,” which ranges from Sonoma to downtown San Rafael and covers 43 miles.

Bicycles will be allowed on the train and all trains will have free WiFI access. SMART will reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses by an astounding number of 30 million pounds of emissions. In an interview, SMART officials stated their trains will reduce about, “5,300 car trips daily from North Bay roads.” (“Frequently Asked Questions”, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit. SMART Train. September 16th 2015.)

The train will be “clean, efficient and modern rail cars will be a quick, quiet way to travel in the North Bay,” (“Frequently Asked Questions”, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit. SMART Train. September 16th 2015.) according to a SMART affiliate, quoted in a Q&A. With a little patience, now we just need to wait for the train’s completion in late 2016.