Politics & Government
Work on Petaluma/Cotati Segments of SMART Line Scheduled
Agency signs new $69 million contract for next phase of project
By Karina Ioffee
Work on Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit is progressing, with an Oakland firm selected Wednesday for the next phase of the project, that will include new construction to segments in the Petaluma and Cotati area.
The SMART board signed an $68.7 million contract with Shimmick Construction for improvements that will include work on the segment from Manor Drive to East Cotati Avenue, as well as many other segments in the region.Other improvements include strengthening of the Puerto Suello Tunnel in San Rafael, installation of a new bridge to replace the existing Haystack Bridge over the Petaluma river, station platform finishes such as access ramps and stairs, shelters, lighting, seating and the construction of a maintenance facility to house vehicle storage and maintenance, dispatch and train operations and systems.
Completion of the line from San Rafael to Santa Rosa is expected in 2016, with a Larkspur extension done soon after.
"Progress has been rapid since we started construction in the summer of 2012," said Judy Arnold, SMART board chair and president of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, in a prepared statement.
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"This contract will deliver most of the remaining infrastructure for starting service in 2016, and the board is especially pleased that like our first construction contract, the winning proposal is from another Bay Area contractor, delivering local jobs."
Project progress to date includes track reconstruction from Santa Rosa to Petaluma, final steps for permits to continue track construction into Marin in the Spring, signaling and communications systems design nearing completion with field installation beginning.
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The first train set is due to perform a test run on the new tracks early next year.
Shimmick Construction has completed major projects for BART, Cal-Train, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni) and other local agencies. It's playing a key role in design and construction of the $780 million design-build Berryessa BART Extension.
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