In a 15-minute neighborhood, Petalumans can accomplish the tasks of daily life quickly, without needing a car. These tasks might include buying a missing ingredient for dinner, walking a child to a play date, or catching a bus to a job.

In 2020 Petaluma was one of eight cities nationwide to win a Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) grant from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to help transform our city into 15-minute neighborhoods and living streets.

In early August, the American Institute of Architects will visit Petaluma to help our town formulate a plan for creating 15-minute neighborhoods. Veronica Olsen and others of the local organizing committee will explain how this visit came to be, why it's important to meet our ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, how it will be conducted, and what the result will be.

SMART General Manager, Eddy Cumins, will join us to discuss the future of SMART, what we can expect of the service in Petaluma, and what we can do to ensure the success of passenger rail in Sonoma and Marin counties.

Tune in to learn:

• What SMART ridership looks like post-COVID

• What changes are being implemented today and what changes are just around the corner to improve the SMART experience for riders

• How SMART is looking to address the first mile and last mile opportunities -- how to get you from the station to your final destination

• Updates on the pathway in Petaluma and the Petaluma North station

• How freight transport fits into SMART service

• How SMART is planning for the future