Marin Transit

Public bus agency in California, US
Founded1964
Headquarters711 Grand Avenue, Suite 110, San Rafael
Service areaMarin County, California
Service typetransit bus, school bus, paratransit
Routes30
HubsSan Rafael Transit Center
StationsMarin City: Donahue & Terners
Novato: Redwood & Grant
San Anselmo: San Anselmo Hub (Center & Sir Francis Drake)
Daily ridership8,800 (weekdays, Q4 2023)[1]
Annual ridership2,814,700 (2023)[2]
OperatorGolden Gate Transit
MV Transportation
Marin Airporter
Whistlestop
WebsiteMarin Transit

Marin Transit is a public bus agency in Marin County, California, in the United States. Originally formed in 1964 as Marin County Transit District (MCTD). Marin Transit was re-branded on 30 July 2007 and now provides a variety of fixed-route and demand-response services using contractors. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 2,814,700, or about 8,800 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

History

Marin Transit was formed by a vote of the people of Marin County in 1964 and was given the responsibility for providing local transit service within Marin County. It has since played a key role in providing local transit service within the county through various funding sources (Measure A Funds, State Transportation Development Act Funds, fares, property taxes and Federal Section 5311 rural transit funds).[3] For a history of Marin Transit service in relation to Golden Gate Transit, click here.

Fixed-route bus service

Marin Transit serves all major cities, towns, and communities within Marin County except Muir Beach, Nicasio, and Peacock Gap (East San Rafael). Route information listed below is current as of 10 June 2018.[4][5]

See Golden Gate Transit for information on Regional and Commute bus routes serving Marin County, which have no affiliation with Marin Transit.

Regular service

A Marin Transit bus operating on Route 233 at the San Rafael Transit Center.
Route Direction Terminals Days of Operation Cities, Communities, and Attractions Served Schedule Information
North/East Terminal South/West Terminal
17 North-south San Rafael Transit Center Sausalito Ferry Terminal Daily San Rafael, Larkspur Landing, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Strawberry, Mill Valley, Tam Valley, Marin City, Sausalito Route 17 Schedule
22 San Rafael Transit Center Marin City
(Donahue & Terners)
Daily San Rafael, San Anselmo, Ross, College of Marin, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Strawberry, Marin City Route 22 Schedule
23 East-west San Rafael
(Shoreline Parkway at Target)
Fairfax
(Broadway & Bolinas/Sir Francis Drake & Claus)
Daily Canal, San Rafael, San Anselmo, Fairfax Route 23 Schedule
23X Canal
(Kerner & Larkspur)
Fairfax Manor
(Sir Francis Drake & Glen/Olema)
Weekdays Canal, San Rafael, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Manor
29 Canal
(Kerner & Larkspur)
Marin General Hospital Weekdays Canal, San Rafael, Larkspur Landing, Greenbrae, Kentfield, College of Marin, Marin General Hospital Route 29 Schedule
35 North-south Novato
(Redwood & Olive)
Canal
(Kerner & Larkspur)
Daily Novato, Ignacio, Northgate, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael, Canal Route 35 Schedule
36 Canal
(Kerner & Larkspur)
Marin City
(Donahue & Terners)
Daily Canal, San Rafael, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Marin City Route 36 Schedule
49 Novato
(Redwood & Olive)
San Rafael Transit Center Daily Novato, Ignacio, Hamilton, Terra Linda, Northgate, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael Route 49 Schedule
71 Novato
(Redwood & Olive)
Marin City
(Donahue & Terners)
Daily Novato, Ignacio, San Rafael, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Marin City Route 71 Schedule
219 East-west Tiburon
(Ferry Terminal)
Strawberry
(Reed & Belvedere)
Daily Tiburon, Belvedere, Strawberry Route 219 Schedule
219F Weekdays Tiburon, Belvedere, Strawberry
228 San Rafael Transit Center Fairfax Manor
(Sir Francis Drake & Bank/Olema)
Daily San Rafael, Larkspur Landing, Greenbrae, Marin General Hospital, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Manor Route 228 Schedule
233 North-south Santa Venetia
(Vendola & Estancia)
San Rafael Transit Center Daily Santa Venetia, Marin Civic Center, Dominican University, San Rafael Route 233 Schedule
245 Terra Linda
(Smith Ranch & Yosemite)
San Rafael Transit Center Daily Terra Linda, Kaiser Hospital, Northgate, San Rafael Route 245 Schedule
251 San Marin
(San Marin & San Andreas)
Hamilton
(Hamilton Theatre Parking Lot)
Daily San Marin, Novato, Novato Community Hospital, Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, College of Marin (Indian Valley Campus), Ignacio, Hamilton Route 251 Schedule
257 College of Marin
(Indian Valley Campus)
San Rafael Transit Center Weekdays Indian Valley Campus, Ignacio, Hamilton, Marinwood, Terra Linda, Kaiser Hospital, Northgate, Dominican University, San Rafael Route 257 Schedule

Note: Italicized locations are served on select trips only.

West Marin Stagecoach and Muir Woods Shuttle

A West Marin Stagecoach bus operating on Route 68 at the San Rafael Transit Center.
Route Direction Terminals Days of Operation Cities, Communities, and Attractions Served Schedule Information
North/East Terminal South/West Terminal
61 East-west All trips:
Marin City
(Donahue & Terners)
Bolinas
(Wharf & Brighton)
Daily Sausalito, Marin City, Tam Valley, Tamalpais High School, Mount Tamalpais State Park (Bootjack and Pantoll Campgrounds), Stinson Beach, Bolinas Route 61 Schedule
Select weekend trips:
Sausalito
(Ferry Terminal)
66 Pohono Street Park & Ride Muir Woods Weekends (seasonal) Pohono Street Park & Ride, Muir Woods Route 66 Schedule
66F Sausalito
(Ferry Terminal)
Sausalito, Marin City, Muir Woods
68 East-west San Rafael Transit Center Inverness
(Sir Francis Drake & Inverness)
Daily San Rafael, San Anselmo, Archie Williams High School, Fairfax, Manor, San Geronimo, Forest Knolls, Lagunitas, Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Olema, Point Reyes Station, Inverness Route 68 Schedule

Supplemental service

Supplemental routes operate on school days only.

Route Direction Schools Served Cities and Communities Served Schedule Information
613 East-west Redwood High School Corte Madera, Paradise Cay Route 613 Schedule
619 East-west Redwood High School Tiburon, Belvedere, Strawberry Route 619 Schedule
625 East-west Archie Williams High School, Lagunitas School San Rafael, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Manor, Woodacre, Lagunitas Route 625 Schedule
639 North-south Terra Linda High School Terra Linda, Marinwood, Lucas Valley Route 639 Schedule
645 Terra Linda High School Terra Linda, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael Route 645 Schedule
651 San Jose Middle School, Novato High School, San Marin High School Hamilton, Ignacio, Novato, San Marin Route 651 Schedule
654 East-west San Marin High School, Sinaloa Middle School Novato, San Marin Route 654 Schedule

Demand-response service

Marin Transit provides four services that do not operate on fixed routes, as well as ADA complementary paratransit.

Marin Transit Connect

Marin Transit Connect[6] provides curb-to-curb service in northern San Rafael on weekdays. On-demand service is available by requesting a ride through the Marin Transit Connect app. Passengers without smartphones can schedule rides by calling a phone number.

Dillon Beach/Tomales Dial-a-Ride

The Dillon Beach/Tomales Dial-a-Ride[7] provides curb-to-curb service from Dillon Beach and Tomales to Petaluma by reservation only. Service operates on Wednesdays.

Novato Dial-a-Ride

The Novato Dial-a-Ride[8] provides curb-to-curb service within Novato by reservation only. Novato Dial-a-Ride, which replaced the EZ Rider service that served only portions of the city, supplements fixed-route bus service and operates to areas not served by buses, including Bahia, Bel Marin Keys, and Black Point. Service operates daily.

Point Reyes Dial-a-Ride

The Point Reyes Dial-a-Ride[9] provides curb-to-curb service from Point Reyes to Novato shopping destinations by reservation only. Service operates the first and third Mondays of each month.

Marin Access

Complementary paratransit (Disabled access) service, as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is operated within Marin County using the Marin Access name.[10] Service is available to eligible passengers by reservation only. Marin Transit supplements paratransit with the STAR and TRIP volunteer driver programs and Marin Catch-a-Ride program.[11]

Fleet

As of 2020, Marin Transit owns a fleet of approximately 66 buses.

Year Fleet numbers Make Model Length (feet) Propulsion Quantity Image
2008, 2011, 2013, 2016 100, 105, 108-115, 1680 ElDorado National AeroTech 240 24 Gasoline 11
2010 3301-3307 New Flyer DE35LF 35 Diesel-electric hybrid 7
2010–2012 3060-3069 ElDorado National XHF 35 Diesel 10
2015 1501–1504 Gillig BRT 29 Diesel-electric hybrid 4 NA
2015 1505–1511 Gillig BRT 40 Diesel-electric hybrid 7
2015 1560–1561 ElDorado National AeroElite 270 27 Gasoline 2
2017 1701–1710 Gillig BRT 40 Diesel-electric hybrid 10
2017 1760–1761 ElDorado National XHF 29 Diesel 2 NA
2018 1801–1802 BYD K9S 35 Electric 2 NA
2019 2001–2011 Gillig BRT 40 Diesel-electric hybrid 11

Marin Transit also uses approximately eight buses owned by the National Park Service, Caltrans, MV Transportation, and Marin Airporter. These vehicles are not reflected in the table above.

Fares

All Marin Transit fixed-route fares and passes are also valid on Golden Gate Transit bus routes within Marin County.[12]

A Golden Gate Transit local transfer (issued on a Marin Transit route) that allows a 3-hour travel period within Marin County.

Fixed-route fares

These fares do not apply to the Muir Woods Shuttle. See Muir Woods Shuttle fares in the following section.

Fare category[13] Cash fare Clipper fare 1-day pass 31-day pass
Adult $2.00 $1.80 $5.00 $40.00
Youth (ages 5 through 18) $1.00 $1.00 $2.50 $40.00
Senior (ages 65 and over), Disabled (Disabled access), or Medicare $1.00 $1.00 $2.50 $20.00

Notes:

  • Up to two children ages 4 and under ride free with an adult.
  • College of Marin students ride free with a validated COM card.
  • Transfers are issued free upon payment and are valid for one-way travel on all Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit routes within Marin County for 3 hours. Clipper automatically calculates transfers.

School-based Youth Passes are available to students ages 5 through 18 from Marin County schools. Passes are available for $175.00 for 6 months and $325.00 for one year. Passes allow unlimited rides on all Marin Transit fixed routes (excluding Muir Woods Shuttle). However, unlike other Marin Transit fare media, the passes are not valid on any Golden Gate Transit bus routes.

Muir Woods Shuttle fares

Round-trip fares on the Muir Woods Shuttle are $3.50 for adults (ages 16 and over) and free for youths (ages 15 and under).[14] No one-way fares are available. Marin Transit fare media and Clipper cards are not accepted. Fares must be purchased online prior to boarding.

Demand-response fares

Clipper cards are not accepted on any demand-response services. Monthly passes are accepted on Novato Dial-A-Ride only.

Service Adult fare Youth fare Senior fare Disabled fare
Novato Dial-a-Ride[8] $4.00 $2.00 $2.00 $2.00
Dillon Beach / Tomales Dial-a-Ride[7] $4.00
Point Reyes Dial-a-Ride[9]
Marin Access Paratransit[15] N/A $3.00

Connect2Transit offers discounts on shared rides, including Marin Connect and UberPool. Marin Connect fares are $3.00 for Marin Access users.[16]

See also

  • San Francisco Bay Area portal

Notes

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Marin Transit: About Us
  4. ^ Marin Transit – Maps and Schedules
  5. ^ "Marin Transit Rider's Guide, Summer 2018". Marin Transit. 10 June 2018.
  6. ^ Connect
  7. ^ a b "Dillon Beach / Tomales Dial-A-Ride". Marin Transit. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Novato Dial-A-Ride". Marin Transit. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Point Reyes Dial-A-Ride". Marin Transit. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  10. ^ Marin Access
  11. ^ Marin Access Mobility Management Center
  12. ^ Fares
  13. ^ "Fares". Marin Transit. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Muir Woods Parking and Shuttle Reservations". ACE Parking. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Paratransit". Marin Transit. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Connect2Transit". Marin Transit, Transit Authority of Marin, and Uber. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  • v
  • t
  • e
RailFerryMajor busMinor busRegional busEntitiesMajor
stations
San Francisco
Oakland
San Jose
Major historical
services