The Sonoma‑Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Windsor Station has been named Rail and Transit Project of the Year by the California Transportation Foundation (CTF), recognizing the project’s contribution to expanding passenger rail service and advancing multimodal transportation in Northern California at a time of growing travel demand and congestion along the North Bay corridor.
STV served as SMART’s multidisciplinary design partner for Windsor Station and its accompanying extension. CTF’s annual awards program recognizes projects across California that deliver measurable transportation benefits through planning, complex engineering and lasting public value. SMART and STV, along with project partners Stacy Whitbeck and Modern Railways Systems, were honored with the award at the CTF Annual Awards gala in San Jose, CA.
The Windsor Station is part of a 3.2‑mile northern extension of the SMART commuter rail system, expanding passenger service from the Sonoma County Airport area into downtown Windsor and bringing rail access closer to residents, jobs and local destinations. The extension includes a new multimodal rail station, reconstructed track, five rebuilt rail bridges, two pedestrian bridges, a pedestrian underpass, upgraded grade crossings, and a 2.6‑mile non‑motorized pathway that integrates walking and cycling alongside the rail corridor – strengthening both regional mobility and local connectivity.
STV provided civil, structural, and rail engineering; station architecture; roadway and grade‑crossing design; drainage and site systems; ADA‑compliant access; and safety enhancements. Working closely with SMART and project partners, the firm supported the extension’s integration while maintaining active rail operations and uninterrupted community access throughout design and construction.
Since opening to passenger service last year, the Windsor Station has strengthened regional transportation options by providing a rail alternative along the heavily traveled U.S. Highway 101 corridor – helping relieve pressure on a key regional roadway while offering a reliable option for daily commuters and regional travelers. The extension improves access between Sonoma and Marin counties and connects riders to ferry service at Larkspur, supporting regional travel throughout the North Bay and reinforcing multimodal connections across the system.
In addition to the California Transportation Foundation honor, the SMART Windsor project earned an Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of California (ACEC California) as part of its 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards program and advanced as a Golden Bear Award finalist, one of the highest recognitions for engineering achievement in the state. The project was also named Outstanding Transportation Project of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) San Francisco Section
The Windsor Station project builds on STV’s long‑standing partnership with SMART, which spans nearly two decades. Over that time, STV has provided planning, engineering, and design services for much of the system now in operation, contributing to stations, track alignments, bridges, roadway interfaces, and grade crossings that support SMART’s regional rail and active transportation network.
