Since July, workers have put down 11 miles of new track, replaced or repaired six bridges and rebuilt 18 crossings as part of the North Bay's commuter rail project.
This month, work on the Petaluma portion of the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit finally starts and is expected to continue until mid-December.
“We’re on track and on budget,” said Matt Stevens, a spokesman for the agency.
When the work begins in Petaluma (likely after Nov. 15), crews will be working 10 hours a day, five or six days a week, Stevens said. For the first time during SMART construction, construction will have to accommodate ongoing freight train operations, meaning crews to work on shorter lengths of track.
Simultaneous with the track work, street crossing improvements will continue, with D Street next on the list (no date has yet been set for the work.)
Because of dust and noise created during the improvement, SMART is urging all residents to stay away from the work site. They are also reminding property owners along the railroad right-of-way to make sure that their fences are in good condition to prevent pets from getting loose into the construction site.
For any construction issues, contact SMART at 855-312-7444.
Dave Alden contributed reporting.
