San Rafael Transit Center
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox station
| name = San Rafael
| style = SMART
| image = San Rafael station with northbound train, August 2018.jpg
| caption = San Rafael station with a northbound train in August 2018
| alt = A train at a high-level platform, with a mission-style depot building behind
| address = 3rd Street and Hetherton Street
| coordinates = {{coord|37|58|15|N|122|31|21|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 14
| borough = San Rafael, California
| elevation = 10.2 ft (3.1 m)
| owned =
| other = {{bus icon}} Golden Gate Transit
{{bus icon}} Marin Transit
{{bus icon}} Sonoma County Airport Express
{{bus icon}} Sonoma County Transit
{{bus icon}} Greyhound Lines
| line = SMART Mainline Subdivision
| platforms = 2 side platforms
| tracks = 2
| bicycle = Yes
| accessible = Yes
| zone = 1 (SMART) 4 (GGT)
| website =
| code = {{SMART code|DSR}}
| opened = {{Start date|1991|df=y}} (bus service){{cite news|last1=Prado|first1=Mark|title=San Rafael Transit Center to undergo major changes with SMART's arrival|url=http://www.marinij.com/article/NO/20160311/NEWS/160319938|access-date=11 June 2016|agency=Marin Independent Journal|publisher=Digital First Media|date=11 March 2016}}
{{Start date|2017|7|8}} (SMART preview){{cite web|title=SMART Public Preview Rides|url=http://sonomamarintrain.org/sites/default/files/Images/Public%20Preview%20Ride%20-%20July%202017.jpg|publisher=SMART|access-date=9 July 2017}}
{{start date|2017|8|25}} (SMART service)
| passengers = approx. 4,500 bus boardings daily (2018){{cite web |url=https://www.goldengate.org/assets/1/6/srtc-project-fact-sheet.pdf |title=SAN RAFAEL TRANSPORTATION CENTER: Relocation Analysis, Environmental Clearance, and Preliminary Design |publisher=Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District |year=2018}}
| pass_year =
| pass_rank =
| services = {{Adjacent stations
|system=SMART|line=SMART|left=Marin Civic Center|right=Larkspur
}}
| other_services_header = Former services
| other_services_collapsible = yes
| other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Northwestern Pacific Railroad
|line1=Main Line|left1=Hamilton Field|right1=Green Brae
|line2=San Anselmo|right2=B Street
|line3=Green Brae|right3=California Park
}}
}}
The San Rafael Transportation Center (also called C. Paul Bettini Transportation Center) is an intermodal transportation center located in downtown San Rafael, California. It is a primary transfer point for several local and regional bus operators, and a commuter rail station on the Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system.
History
File:San Rafael station 1911 postcard.jpg
The original San Rafael railway depot that served the Northwestern Pacific Railroad was located at what is now a cafe north of the station. As rail use fell into decline, passenger service ended after November 10, 1958.{{cite news |title=Train makes last run |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner/131697637/ |access-date=12 September 2023 |newspaper=San Francisco Examiner |via=Newspapers.com |date=November 11, 1958 |page=13}} {{free access}}
Buses came to prominence with the expansion of the road and highway system. The current transportation center was constructed around the station building in 1991.
SMART testing began in March 2016.{{cite news|last1=Prado|first1=Mark|title=Commuter train rolls into San Rafael for the first time in 50 years|url=http://www.marinij.com/article/NO/20160304/NEWS/160309892|access-date=24 April 2016|agency=Marin Independent Journal|date=4 March 2016}} Service began with preview rides on July 8, 2017, and full service commenced on August 25, 2017. The station acted as the southern terminal of the line until December 14, 2019, when the extension to Larkspur station opened. The bus terminal was reconfigured to allow the SMART tracks to pass through.{{cite news|last1=Prado|first1=Mark|title=San Rafael wants a delay in SMART trains to Larkspur|url=http://www.marinij.com/article/NO/20170204/NEWS/170209902|access-date=5 February 2017|publisher=Marin Independent Journal|date=4 February 2017}}
Marin Airporter service to the San Rafael Transit Center ended on October 6, 2019, due to traffic congestion around the transit center.{{cite press release |url=https://marinairporter.com/central-san-rafael-airporter-stop-closing/ |title=AFTER OCT. 6TH, CENTRAL SAN RAFAEL TRANSIT CENTER WILL NO LONGER BE AN AIRPORTER BUS STOP |publisher=Marin Airporter}}
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Services
File:Marin Transit route 35 bus at San Rafael Transit Center, April 2018.JPG
San Rafael Transit Center has two side platforms serving the two tracks of the SMART mainline.{{CA rail schematics|page=1}} The bus area, located south of the SMART platforms, has two side platforms and two island platforms.{{cite web |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/HSP_SRF-station.pdf |title=Station Map: San Rafael Transit Center |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Commission |date=October 10, 2019}}
San Rafael is the primary transfer point for Marin Transit, which operates local service plus two interurban routes. It is also served by several regional and intercity bus operators:{{cite web |url=http://www.actransit.org/wp-content/uploads/HSP_SRF-sched.pdf |title=Schedules and Fares: San Rafael Transit Center |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Commission |date=August 29, 2019}}
- Marin Transit: 17, 22, 23, 23X, 29, 35, 36, 49, 68, 71X, 122, 125, 145, 228, 233, 245, 257
- Golden Gate Transit: 101, 130, 132, 150, 580
- Sonoma County Transit: 38
- Sonoma County Airport Express
- Greyhound Lines
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/stations SMART - Stations]
- [https://locations.greyhound.com/bus-stations/us/california/san-rafael/bus-station-893398 Greyhound - San Rafael]
{{SMART}}
{{Bay Area Rail Stations}}
{{San Francisco Bay Area Public Transit}}
Category:Bus stations in Marin County, California
Category:Buildings and structures in San Rafael, California
Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2017
Category:2017 establishments in California
Category:Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit stations in Marin County
Category:San Francisco Bay Trail
Category:1991 establishments in California
Category:Former Northwestern Pacific Railroad stations
Category:Railway stations in the United States closed in 1958