Support seamless connections at San Rafael Transit Center

The San Rafael Transit Center is an important location for transit connections in the North Bay.  In the downtown of the largest city in Marin County, many bus lines converge, including Golden Gate Transit, Marin Transit, Sonoma County Transit, Greyhound, and the Marin Airporter.  The SMART rail station opened in 2017, and the bus terminal was reconfigured temporarily to accommodate the train tracks. 

Now, Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District is creating a permanent new design for the Transit Center.   

The San Rafael City Council meeting on April 19 (see agenda here) is an important opportunity to get acquainted with the proposals and speak up for seamless transit connectivity and engaging urban design.

In keeping with the Seamless Transit Principles - particularly the principle of “Put Riders First” - the main measure by which the Transit Center alternatives should be judged is how well they work for transit passengers: the safety, health, and convenience of getting to, from, and among buses and the city’s new SMART train service. The overall experience will influence whether passengers keep taking transit or return to driving, with all its negative impacts on the wider community and the environment.

The alternatives should also be evaluated based on their impact on the vitality and development potential of Downtown San Rafael, which is enhanced with greater transit use and less car traffic.

Sustainable San Rafael and Seamless Bay Area believe the so-called ‘Whistlestop Block’ alternative does the best job at addressing both of these goals by:

  • Providing an open bus plaza and train at the front door to downtown.

  • Combining buses and trains on one block, with no need to cross streets.

  • Restoring and reusing an iconic train depot building for passenger services.

  • Extending a lively bike, pedestrian, transit & retail corridor along Tamalpais.

  • Catalyzing a compelling residential and commercial development district. 

  • Keeping & enhancing commuter parking under the 101 freeway.

Those are the makings for a great transit center and a great gateway to downtown San Rafael.

whistlestop annotated-02.jpg

Supporters of a vibrant and rider-friendly San Rafael Transit Center should call or write to San Rafael City Council in advance of the April 19 meeting, or attend live:

San Rafael City Council Meeting - April 19, 2021

Agenda Packet, Agenda #7a: https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/meetings/city-council-april-19-2021/#/tab-agenda-packet

Send an email: city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org

Watch on Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/cs-2021-04-19

Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/cityofsanrafael

Listen by phone: (669) 900-9128 // ID: 817-829-3389

Be sure to also save the date for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District (GGGHTD) board meeting on May 21, when the GGBHTD Board will choose a preferred alternative, which will then go on to be studied in the Environmental Impact Review for the project.  

More materials and meeting information:

Bill Carney, Sustainable San Rafael