The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit agency received a boost for its planned bicycle and pedestrian plan when a key regional agency gave a preliminary OK to have it seek federal dollars.

Last week the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Legislation Committee recommended to the MTC board that the rail project be placed on a list for $17.6 million in TIGER — Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery — funds.

"If the board approves this, it puts us on the list of the projects MTC is recommending to the federal government," said Farhad Mansourian, SMART's interim executive director. "That gives us a better chance to get the money."

If SMART wins the money, it would go toward building the pathway along the initial segment of the SMART train from Santa Rosa to San Rafael. The entire path is a $67.3 million project, along a 44-mile segment of the overall SMART line, linking seven cities from Windsor to San Rafael.

"We anticipate up to 10,000 people a day will use this path, improving both the quality of life and the environment of the North Bay," said Marin Supervisor Judy Arnold, SMART vice chairwoman.

SMART could use the dollars as the project scuffles along. Measure Q — the SMART measure — needed 66.67 percent to pass in 2008. Marin gave it 62.6 percent approval while Sonoma gave it 73.5 percent, for 69.5 percent.

The approval raised the sales tax in Marin and Sonoma counties by

a quarter cent to fund the train that was to take passengers from Cloverdale to Larkspur starting in 2014.

But the plan collapsed in the poor economy, which weakened the sales tax base. After cuts were made, SMART announced plans to build a shorter line from Santa Rosa to San Rafael by 2014, and to then build the rest of the line later if money could be found. Where that money will come from has not clearly been defined.

But Mansourian announced he is taking a fresh look at the project and will have new financial estimates available by mid-August