en.Wedoany.com Reported - Voters in Marin and Sonoma Counties, California, approved Measure B in the June 2 primary election, extending the existing quarter-cent sales tax for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) through 2059. The ballot measure received over 70% support, securing a dedicated local funding source for a commuter rail corridor that began operations in 2017 and spans approximately 70 miles.

Measure B reauthorizes the existing quarter-cent local sales tax to fund SMART's operations, maintenance, and future expansion. Originally approved by voters in 2008 and set to expire in 2029, the tax is now extended for 30 years, with the current sales tax rate remaining unchanged. The SMART district did not publicly disclose the projected annual revenue after the extension. According to SMART's financial documents, the tax generated an average annual revenue of approximately $30 million before the pandemic.

The measure provides stable funding for the SMART project. Key relevant information includes: the project name is Measure B (Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District Sales Tax); the total amount is undisclosed, as it is a quarter-cent local sales tax; the stakeholders are the SMART district and registered voters in Marin and Sonoma Counties; the timeframe extends the tax validity through 2059; and the project is located in the Sonoma-Marin corridor in California (from Larkspur to Cloverdale).

Local sales tax measures are a primary financing tool for passenger rail in the United States. With Measure B passing by a supermajority, SMART becomes one of the commuter rail operators in the U.S. with the longest dedicated local tax duration, reducing its reliance on federal discretionary grants. This funding stability benefits SMART's continued planning for a northern extension to Cloverdale and a connection to the Larkspur ferry terminal.

Notably, the SMART district did not issue an official annual revenue forecast in the ballot measure. The previously cited pre-pandemic annual revenue of approximately $30 million serves as a reference, with actual future revenue depending on retail sales conditions in the two-county area.

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