WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) on Tuesday, announced that the Army Corps of Engineer has agreed to pay for the redesign of the Petaluma flood control project that will allow trains to travel at 45 MPH across the Petaluma River bridge. The agreement ended a stalemate that could have delayed construction of the city’s flood control project, and relieved the City of Petaluma and the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit Commission (SMART) from new financial obligations.

“The Army Corps did the right thing in reconsidering plans for the bridge,” said Rep. Woolsey. “The SMART train will provide a much needed service to commuters in the North Bay and the bridge is one step in making it possible.”

The Army Corps of Engineers original design for a bridge to handle 30 MPH traffic was based upon plans made prior to the work for the SMART commuter rail corridor. “My hats off to Rep. Lynn Woolsey for bringing us all together,” said Mike Dillabough, Project Director for the Army Corps of Engineers. “When we realized that our assumptions based on the original plans where erroneous, we corrected the situation.”

“SMART really appreciates Rep. Woolsey’s office stepping in to bring together SMART, the Army corps and the city of Petaluma to resolve this situation to everyone’s satisfaction,” said Lillian Hayes, Project Director for SMART. Commissioner Tim Smith, Sonoma County co-chair of the SMART Commission, said that “SMART is confident that the residents of the North Bay will be better served by a more efficient commuter rail corridor.”

"I'm sure this decision was the result of Lynn Woolsey getting involved to bring the parties to the table. This will keep the (flood control) project moving ahead this year, "said Tom Hargis, Director of Petaluma's flood control project.

The decision to pay for the redesign was made by the Army Corps of Engineers during a meeting at the Santa Rosa offices of Rep. Woolsey with Army Corps, Petaluma City and SMART officials last week. At the meeting, the Army Corps agreed to look at the old rail records and a new systems analysis. The Corps agreed to pay for the redesign after they concluded that the original system was intended to handle trains traveling 45 MPH.

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