We have been an active partner in the Bay Area-wide Great Communities Collaborative and have received two grants from the Hewlett Foundation for community education and outreach regarding the Santa Rosa Station Area planning process. The purpose of the plan is to develop a specific amendment for the City General Plan that will serve as a template for the development of the area within half a mile of the downtown Santa Rosa SMART Rail Station.
The inclusion of Rail in Sonoma County's transportation mix is crucial for reducing the area's carbon footprint and moving the county toward a more sustainable transit system. It will also provide viable transportation to lower-income workers who find automobile ownership financially difficult and whose employment opportunities are limited by transportation problems.