Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) announced today that after carrying 2,045,000 riders, 218,000 bicycles, and 7,890 wheelchair users – SMART celebrated its 4th year of passenger service. SMART began passenger service in the North Bay on August 25, 2017, serving ten stations in 2 counties.
In December 2019, SMART opened two new stations in downtown Novato and at Larkspur which resulted in weekday ridership increasing 40% from the prior year’s ridership numbers – and weekend ridership soared an impressive 70%.
But SMART also experienced significant challenges since opening service in 2017 – 4 major fires, 2 major floods, and a global pandemic hit the North Bay particularly hard. Yet, through all these challenges, SMART and its employees have demonstrated strength and resolve in their commitment to providing the best public transportation service in America.
“I am proud of everything SMART has accomplished in these 4-short years” said SMART Board Chair David Rabbitt. “It is a testimony to hard work and never giving up.”
Barbara Pahre, Vice-Chair of the SMART Board, said, “Since August 2017, SMART quickly became a beloved transportation alternative to driving on the congested Highway 101. Through all the challenges, SMART has continued to provide transit service to our essential workers, and now that the pandemic is easing, serving visitors to our region and workers returning to their workplaces.”
“Every day SMART employees show up to work, they give something of themselves to our passengers and to our community – making the North Bay a much better place to live because of SMART” said SMART General Manager Farhad Mansourian.
