SMART
SMART on May 31 officially began passenger rail service to its new Windsor station, as part of the Windsor Rail System Extension Project, a 3.1-mile extension from the northern terminus at Sonoma County, Airport Station to the town of Windsor. “This long-anticipated expansion marks a major milestone in SMART’s mission to provide sustainable, regional transportation for communities across Sonoma and Marin counties,” said the now 48.1-mile railroad, which also has stations in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael and Larkspur (see map, left). The Windsor station, located just steps from the Windsor Town Green at 464 Emily Rose Circle, is the railroad’s 14th station.
The $70 million project includes just over three miles of Class IV main line track; four bridges; one station with amenities; a 2.6-mile segment of the SMART Multiuse Pathway, part of the Great Redwood Trail, which once completed, will be a 307-mile multiuse path connecting California’s San Francisco and Humboldt bays; gauntlet tracks to accommodate freight train passage; and five at-grade crossings.
The opening of the Windsor station sets the stage for the next phase of SMART’s expansion, which will extend passenger rail service to Healdsburg, followed by Cloverdale, “in the coming years,” completing the original vision for the SMART system, according to the railroad.
“Opening this new SMART station is the realization of a long-held promise to the Windsor community,” SMART Board of Directors Chair Chris Coursey said on May 31. “We’re proud to deliver this long-awaited connection and to take the next step toward completing SMART’s full northern route. It’s an exciting day for Windsor and for the entire North Bay.”
SMART will celebrate the station’s opening on June 13.
NC By Train
On May 30, NC By Train, the state-supported Amtrak intercity passenger rail service, celebrated 35 years of the Carolinian between Charlotte, N.C., and New York and 30 years of the Piedmont between Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation also unveiled a commemorative locomotive, No. 1893, that was specially painted for the Piedmont’s anniversary (see social media post, top).
NC By Train achieved record ridership in 2024. It carried more than 720,000 riders last year, up 12% from 2023 (641,000 riders), 38% from 2022 (522,000 riders), and 55% from 2019 (465,000 riders; prior to the COVID-19 pandemic).
San Diego MTS–NCTD
San Diego MTS and NCTD riders on May 24 completed more than one million trips with contactless payment options since the feature’s launch on PRONTO July 19, 2024, according to San Diego MTS. The feature is available on all San Diego MTS buses and Trolleys, as well as NCTD’s COASTER, SPRINTER, BREEZE and FLEX services.
“This is a historic achievement for transit systems in California, as MTS and NCTD became the first in the state to reach one million contactless payment transactions,” San Diego MTS reported. “Contactless payment options have become widespread in recent years, accounting for approximately 25% of all card transactions in the U.S. … Since launch, MTS and NCTD have logged an average of 5,000 contactless taps each day.”
Approximately 76% of the contactless payment taps have been made by bus riders, which may suggest the feature’s popularity as a substitute for cash fares, according to San Diego MTS. It has also been a popular payment option for infrequent riders attending special events like Padres games, concerts, and San Diego FC matches, the agency said, with the highest single-day use falling on the San Diego FC vs. Seattle Sounders match day, April 5.
In March 2025, San Diego MTS and NCTD improved the contactless payment system by introducing Express Mode for Apple Pay users. This feature allows riders to pay fares with a tap of their Apple Wallet by holding an iPhone or Apple Watch near a fare validator, without the need to wake or unlock the device, further streamlining the boarding process.
All fares paid via contactless payment are eligible for free transfers during the two-hour period on most modes after the first boarding time, San Diego MTS reported. Each rider will be required to pay their fare with a unique payment method, as each method can only be used for one rider at a time. San Diego MTS and NCTD Code Compliance Inspectors scan a rider’s credit card during onboard fare inspections to ensure payment has been made prior to boarding, San Diego MTS noted.
“Reaching one million contactless taps in under a year shows that our riders are embracing smart, modern ways of using transit,” said Stephen Whitburn, San Diego MTS Board Chair and a San Diego City Councilmember. “It’s a major milestone in our efforts to make transit faster, easier and more accessible for everyone.”
“Providing our riders with yet another easy way to pay has been great for expanding our reach,” NCTD CEO Shawn M. Donaghy added. “Just tap, hop on board, and ride the best transit system in the nation.”
