The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit agency is capable of building a rail extension to Larkspur and is a “lean” organization, according to a federal government review.

The Management Capacity and Capability report done for the Federal Transit Administration provides a review of SMART’s “ability to efficiently implement” the Larkspur Commuter Rail Extension Project, which could be in operation by June 2018.

It also looked at SMART’s organizational and management structure, staffing levels, qualifications of personnel, as well as policies and procedures.

“SMART staff and consultant support staff are qualified to implement the Larkspur Extension Project based upon interviews with key individuals, and upon evaluation of work currently being undertaken on the Phase 1 Project,” according to the report by Colorado-based LS Gallegos & Associates Inc., which took 11 months to complete.

SMART officials learned in December they would receive $22.5 million to extend planned commuter rail service to Larkspur as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s “Small Starts” grant program. Those dollars, combined with another $20 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, are expected to be enough to build the extension.

The review of the project for the federal government is required as a safeguard.

“Although the SMART staffing is lean, the firms providing support appear to have adequate capacity to fill the project needs,” the report continued. “In addition … the SMART organization is qualified to successfully operate and maintain the commuter rail line when constructed.”

The report singled out General Manager Farhad Mansourian for “strong leadership” and that he “closely engaged in each functional division.”

The report said SMART has an “extensive community outreach program” but that it should be expanded as part of the extension project. In February, the agency hired a marketing and communications manager to oversee public outreach programs, marketing and media relations.

The extension will connect rail service to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, where boats can take commuters into San Francisco, making it a regional project. For years the plan was criticized as a “train to nowhere” because it didn’t have a connection to a regional system.

Work on the Larkspur extension could start in summer 2017.

Work has already been done on a key stretch to get service to Larkspur from San Rafael. In December 2010 the revamped Cal Park Hill Tunnel, an 1,100-foot tube, was opened at a cost of $28 million. Now work is being planned to get operating rails from the San Rafael Transit Center across Andersen Drive and to and then through the tunnel.

The commuter rail project is being phased, and the $438 million San Rafael-to-Santa Rosa line is being tested. It is set to open later this year.

Marin rail stops include downtown San Rafael, the Marin Civic Center and stations in Novato at Hamilton and Atherton/San Marin. Larkspur should come online in 2018 and downtown Novato later this year. The Santa Rosa Airport will be the initial terminus in Sonoma County.