The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, also known as, Golden Gate Transit, has begun a multi-year process to develop a new transit center for San Rafael. The current transit center, located in downtown San Rafael, has been affected by the extension of the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system to Larkspur. The tracks bisect the site where the San Rafael Transit Center (SRTC) is currently located. This impacts how buses and people access and travel through the site. As a result, the transit center must be relocated to another location in San Rafael.
Golden Gate Transit, in coordination with the City, Marin Transit, Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), and SMART, is working on a project to replace the SRTC for the current and future mobility needs of San Rafael and Marin County.
A new transit center offers an opportunity to:
- Increase safety and comfort for users
- Enhance the surrounding community by providing improved public space and mobility opportunities
- Improve connectivity and circulation in and around downtown San Rafael
- Increase use of local and regional transit use by improving transit connections
- Increase accessibility for all users
- Maintain the current functionality and flexibility for the operators who serve it
Golden Gate Transit has conducted public outreach meetings, surveys, and corresponded with various advisory groups to obtain feedback on proposed ideas for the project. Moreover, at the September 4, 2018 San Rafael City Council meeting, they briefed the Council on the progress of the environmental analysis.
On the upcoming April 19th City Council meeting, Golden Gate Transit will present an informational report on the project. This project is located at the heart of the business district in San Rafael, thus has major implications for the City. This presentation would be a great opportunity to inform the public and the San Rafael City Council about the project and answer any questions the Council may have. For more information, check out the project website.