Marin Transit

Founded	1964
Headquarters	711 Grand Avenue, Suite 110, San Rafael
Locale	Marin County, California
Service type	Bus, demand response, paratransit, school bus
Routes	24
Hubs	San Rafael Transit Center
Stations	Marin City: Donahue & Terners; Novato: Redwood & Grant; San Anselmo: San Anselmo Hub (Center & Sir Francis Drake)
Daily ridership	9,000 (weekdays, Q2 2024)
Annual ridership	2,814,700 (2023)
Operator	Marin Airporter; Golden Gate Transit; Transdev; Bauer's Intelligent Transportation
Chief executive	Nancy E. Whelan
Website	Marin 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 July 30, 2007 and now provides a variety of fixed-route and demand-response public transportation services. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 2,814,700, or about 9,000 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

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 June 10, 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.

Local 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
Route	Direction	North/East Terminal	South/West Terminal	Days of Operation	Cities, Communities, and Attractions Served	Schedule Information
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	North-south	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
29	East-west	San Rafael Transit Center	E. Corte Madera (San Clemente)	Weekdays	San Rafael, Larkspur Landing, Greenbrae, Kentfield, College of Marin, Marin General Hospital, San Celemente	Route 29 Schedule
35	North-south	Northgate Shopping Center	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 (San Marin SMART Station)	San Rafael Transit Center	Daily	Novato, Ignacio, Hamilton, Terra Linda, Northgate, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael	Route 49 Schedule
57		Novato (San Marin SMART Station)	San Rafael Transit Center	Daily	Novato, Ignacio, Alameda del Prado, Las Gallinas, San Rafael	Route 57 Schedule
57		Novato (San Marin SMART Station)	Select Weekday and All Weekend Trips: Hamilton Theatre Lot (Palm Dr and S Palm Dr)	Daily		Route 57 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
228	East-west	San Rafael Transit Center	Fairfax Manor (Sir Francis Drake & Glen)	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	North-south	Terra Linda (Smith Ranch & Yosemite)	San Rafael Transit Center	Daily	Terra Linda, Kaiser Hospital, Northgate, San Rafael	Route 245 Schedule

Note: Italicized locations are served on select trips only.

West Marin Stagecoach rural service

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
Route	Direction	North/East Terminal	South/West Terminal	Days of Operation	Cities, Communities, and Attractions Served	Schedule Information
61	East-west	Sausalito (Sausalito Ferry Terminal)	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
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		Redwood High School	Tiburon, Belvedere, Strawberry	Route 619 Schedule
625		Archie Williams High School, Lagunitas School	San Rafael, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Manor, Woodacre, Lagunitas	Route 625 Schedule
654		San Marin High School, Sinaloa Middle School	Novato, San Marin	Route 654 Schedule

Demand-Response and other services

In addition to fixed route services, Marin Transit provides intra- and inter-county complimentary ADA paratransit (Marin Access) service.

Marin Access also administers a voucher-based transportation reimbursement program (Marin Transit Catch-a-Ride), a volunteer driver reimbursement program (Marin Transit STAR Program), travel training programs, and a network of countywide mobility shuttles (Marin Access Shuttles).

Marin Access

Complementary paratransit () service, as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is operated within Marin County using the Marin Access name.^[6] Service is available to eligible passengers by reservation only.

As part of the interagency operations agreement between the Marin County Transit District and the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District, all paratransit for the Golden Gate Transit regional network is also provided by Marin Access.

Catch-a-Ride

Marin Transit Catch-a-Ride^[7] offers eligible riders up to thirty discounted rides per quarter (three month period) using paper or digital vouchers. Eligibility is based on age, Marin Access enrollment, and residency.

Volunteer Driver Program

The STAR Volunteer Driver Program^[8] empowers older adults and people with disabilities to remain independent by providing a mileage reimbursement for their friends, neighbors, and other community members who provide them with rides. This program does not provide a pool of volunteer drivers, but rather allows the rider to find their own trusted driver and provide a mileage reimbursement. A caregiver, friend, or neighbor may be a driver.

Travel Training Program

Marin Transit offers group and individualized Travel Training Programs^[9] to help riders become more informed and independent. Staff will teach program participants about transportation programs and services available through Marin Transit and Marin Access. Individualized, one-on-one trainings aboard fixed route vehicles are also available to help participants learn to ride in a 'real-world' environment with ease.

Mobility Shuttle Program

The Marin Access Mobility Shuttles^[10] provide a curb to curb service within specific service areas. Advance reservations are required and rides can be scheduled up to seven days in advance.

Home to School Student Transportation

Marin Transit is the only public transit agency in the United States that provides dedicated home to school student transportation operated by yellow school buses, in additional to supplemental service provided by regular fixed route vehicles. Service is provided to the White Hill Middle School and the Hidden Valley Elementary School, both belonging to the Ross Valley School District, and is provided under the oversight of the Ross Valley Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JEPA). The JEPA board, made up of local elected officials, set the pass price, service schedule, and approves the contracted agreement between Marin Transit and the operator of the service.^[11]

Muir Woods Shuttle

Provided through a partnership with the National Park Service, Marin Transit provides staffing, operations support, and contract oversight for a seasonal, recreational shuttle to the Muir Woods National Monument. The shuttle runs weekends between late Spring and the early Fall, and adds additional weekday service in the peak summer period.^[12]

Fares

All Marin Transit fixed-route fares and passes are also valid on Golden Gate Transit bus routes within Marin County.^[13] Fares are paid by Clipper card or cash.

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^[14]	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 (), 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.

The school-based Marin Transit Youth Pass^[15] is available to students between 5 and 18 years of age through Marin County schools. Passes are available $325.00 for the school year. Passes allow unlimited rides on all Marin Transit fixed routes. However, unlike other Marin Transit fare media, the passes are not valid on any Golden Gate Transit bus routes.

Marin Access fares

Fares for Marin Access paratransit service are zone based. Services provided within Marin County are charged a flat $4.00 fare. For all service outside of Marin County, fares and zone boundaries are set by Golden Gate Transit.

The fares below are effective as of July 1, 2024.^[16]

Zone	Zone 1 San Francisco	Zone 2 Sausalito, Marin City, Mill Valley, Tiburon	Zone 4 Ignacio, Hamilton, Novato	Zone 5 Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park	Zone 7 Richmond, El Cerrito
Zone 1 San Francisco	N/A¹	$17.00^G	$19.50^G	$29.00^G	$10.50^G
Zone 2 Sausalito, Marin City, Mill Valley, Tiburon	$17.00^G	$4.00^M		$19.50^G	$14.50^G
Zone 3 Corte Madera, Larkspur, San Anselmo, San Rafael	$17.00^G			$19.50^G
Zone 4 Ignacio, Hamilton, Novato	$19.50^G			$16.00^G
Zone 5 Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park	$29.00^G	$19.50^G	$16.00^G	$6.00^G	$26.50^G
Zone 6 Santa Rosa	$29.00^G	$19.50^G	$16.00^G	$6.00^G	$26.50^G
Zone 7 Richmond, El Cerrito	$10.50^G	$14.50^G		$26.50^G	N/A²

^{1 - Service provided by SF Paratransit.}^[17]
^{2 - Service provided by East Bay Paratransit.}^[18]
^{G - Fare set by Golden Gate Transit.}
^{M - Fare set by Marin Transit.}

Other Program fares

Muir Woods Shuttle fares

Round-trip fares on the Muir Woods Shuttle are $3.50 for adults (ages 16 and over). Passengers 15 and under ride free, limit 2 per fare paying adult. No one-way fares are available. Marin Transit fare media and Clipper cards are not accepted. Fares must be purchased online prior to boarding.^[19]

Mobility Shuttle fares

One way fares are $4.00 for general public and $2.00 for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Clipper cards are not accepted on any demand-response services.^[20]

Home to School Transportation fares

Yellow Bus passes are available to students based on a first come, first served basis. Pass price is approved by the JEPA board before the start of the school year.

Passes are sold for the entire year, per direction. The current pass price is $675. The current reduced-income pass price, subject to verification and approval by the Ross Valley School District, is $75.

Fleet

As of 2024, Marin Transit owns a fleet of approximately 105 vehicles for fixed route and demand response service. On August 5, 2024, Marin Transit had a full zero-emmission fleet replacement plan approved by their Board of Directors.^[21]

Fleet numbers	Make	Model	Year	Length (feet)	Propulsion	Quantity	Operator
673–689	Ford	E350	2019	22	Gasoline	17	Transdev
1501–1504	Gillig	BRT	2015	30	Diesel-electric hybrid	4	Marin Airporter
1505–1511	Gillig	BRT	2015	40	Diesel-electric hybrid	7	Marin Airporter
1680	ElDorado National	AeroTech 240	2016	24	Gasoline	1	Marin Airporter
1701, 1703–1707	Gillig	BRT	2017	40	Diesel-electric hybrid	6	Marin Airporter
1708–1710	Gillig	BRT	2017	40	Diesel-electric hybrid	3	Golden Gate Transit
1760–1761	ElDorado National	XHF	2017	29	Diesel	2	Marin Airporter
1801–1802	BYD	K9S	2018	35	Electric	2	Golden Gate Transit
2001–2011	Gillig	BRT	2019	40	Diesel-electric hybrid	11	Golden Gate Transit
2030–2033	Ford	E350	2020	24	Gasoline	4	Transdev
2034–2044	Ford	E350	2020	22	Gasoline	11	Transdev
2080–2088	ElDorado National	Aerotech 240	2021	24	Gasoline	9	Marin Airporter
2101–2104	Gillig	G28D	2021	40	Battery Electric	4	Marin Airporter
2160–2163	ElDorado National	XHF	2021	29	Diesel	4	Marin Airporter
2170–2171	ElDorado National	XHF	2021	35	Diesel	2	Marin Airporter
2401–2404	Gillig	BRT	2023	35	Diesel-electric hybrid	4	Golden Gate Transit
2405–2407	Gillig	BRT	2023	40	Diesel-electric hybrid	3	Golden Gate Transit
2430–2439	Ford	Transit Van 350 XL	2023	17	Gasoline	10	Transdev

The specialized vehicles used on the Muir Woods Shuttle and for Home to School Transportation are contractor owned and maintained, and are not reflected in the table above.

Notes

^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
^ Marin Transit: About Us
^ Marin Transit – Maps and Schedules
^ "Marin Transit Rider's Guide, Summer 2018". Marin Transit. June 10, 2018.
^ Marin Access
^ Catch-a-Ride
^ Volunteer Driver Program
^ "Travel Training".
^ "Marin Access Shuttles".
^ "Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement".
^ "GoMuirWoods Park Shuttle".
^ Fares
^ "Fares". Marin Transit. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
^ "Marin Transit Youth Pass".
^ "Paratransit Fare Table".
^ "SFMTA Paratransit".
^ "East Bay Paratransit".
^ "Muir Woods Parking and Shuttle Reservations". ACE Parking. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
^ "Marin Access Shuttles".
^ "Marin County Transit District Board Packet, Aug 2024" (PDF).

[APTAdaily-1] "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.

[APTA_Ridership_Report-2] "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.

[3] Marin Transit: About Us

[4] Marin Transit – Maps and Schedules

[5] "Marin Transit Rider's Guide, Summer 2018". Marin Transit. June 10, 2018.

[6] Marin Access

[7] Catch-a-Ride

[8] Volunteer Driver Program

[9] "Travel Training".

[10] "Marin Access Shuttles".

[11] "Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement".

[12] "GoMuirWoods Park Shuttle".

[13] Fares

[14] "Fares". Marin Transit. Retrieved March 11, 2023.

[15] "Marin Transit Youth Pass".

[16] "Paratransit Fare Table".

[17] "SFMTA Paratransit".

[18] "East Bay Paratransit".

[19] "Muir Woods Parking and Shuttle Reservations". ACE Parking. Retrieved March 11, 2023.

[20] "Marin Access Shuttles".

[21] "Marin County Transit District Board Packet, Aug 2024" (PDF).

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