San Rafael Transit Center

San Rafael Transit Center
Intermodal station
The San Rafael Transit Center, waiting and loading area
Location	3rd Street and Hetherton Street San Rafael, California
Coordinates	37°58′15″N 122°31′21″W / 37.97083°N 122.52250°W / 37.97083; -122.52250Coordinates: 37°58′15″N 122°31′21″W / 37.97083°N 122.52250°W / 37.97083; -122.52250
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Train operators	Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit (2017)
Bus operators	Golden Gate Transit Marin Transit Marin Airporter Sonoma County Transit Greyhound Bus Lines
Construction
Structure type	at grade
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	1 (SMART)
History
Opened	1991 (1991) July 8, 2017 (2017-07-08) (SMART preview) August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25) (SMART service)
Traffic
Passengers	approx. 9000 daily (2016)
Services
Future services   Preceding station   Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit   Following station Marin Civic Center toward Sonoma County Airport SMART Terminus Marin Civic Center toward Cloverdale Depot Future Larkspur Landing Terminus   Former services   Preceding station   Northwestern Pacific Railroad   Following station Terminus   Interurban   Cal Park toward Tiburon Ferry Terminal     Cal Park toward Sausalito Ferry Terminal B St. toward Sausalito Ferry Terminal     Terminus B St. toward Manor     Ignacio toward Eureka Flag stop at Hamilton Field   Redwood   Hamilton Field toward Eureka   San Francisco to Eureka   Green Brae toward Sausalito Ferry Terminal

The San Rafael Transportation Center in San Rafael, California, also called the C. Paul Bettini Transportation Center, is the main passenger transit terminal for Marin County. From here, passengers can make transfers throughout Marin County, to San Francisco, Contra Costa, and Sonoma Counties. It is also an important station for buses serving San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport, and the rest of the country. The Transit Center is planned to be moved in the coming years as Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit begins operations and occupies several platforms.

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 and was discontinued in the mid 20th century, busses came to prominence with the expansion of the road and highway system. The current transportation center was constructed in 1991.

SMART service began with preview rides on July 8, 2017 and full service will commence on August 25, 2017; the station acts as the southern terminus of the line, pending expansion to Larkspur Landing.

The San Rafael Transit Center hosts to a number of bus agencies, including:

In addition to bus services, there is a double-track railway and two side platform in service as part of the Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit system. Commuter trains arrived in Santa Rosa for testing in March 2016 after a fifty seven-year absence of such services. Rail operations have significantly disrupted service to bus stop locations.