Golden Gate Transit
Encyclopedia
Golden Gate Transit is a public transportation system serving the North Bay region
of the San Francisco Bay Area
in California
, United States
. It mainly serves Marin
and Sonoma
Counties, and also provides limited service to San Francisco
and Contra Costa County
.
Golden Gate Transit is one of three transportation systems owned and operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
, the other two being the Golden Gate Bridge
and Golden Gate Ferry
, both of which connect San Francisco and Marin County. Funding for cross-bridge services is partially subsidized by bridge tolls, in addition to the traditional federal and state sources. Bus service within Marin County is provided under contract with Marin Transit
.
under California State Law, as evidenced by Assembly Bill 584, creating the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District) (GGBHTD). The District consists of 19 directors from six Northern California counties:
Golden Gate Transit, along with Golden Gate Ferry, has provided answers to the growing congestion problem on the Golden Gate Bridge, serving as the main arterial route for commuters between the North Bay and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area, connecting Marin, Sonoma, and other Northern California counties with San Francisco.
system as a commute service to San Francisco. Greyhound provided transit between Marin and San Francisco at the time and it was unprofitable, so management wanted to abandon it. The Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District (District), the operator of the Bridge, also considered adding a second deck to the Bridge. During the time, traffic-relieving measures were implemented, including reversible lanes were inaugurated on the Bridge in 1963, and initiated a very successful one-way toll collection (the first in the world) in 1968 that has been used in other bridges throughout the world; the traffic, however, kept growing.
In the mid-1960s, with the building boom taking place in Marin and Sonoma counties, thousands of commuters were traveling by automobile across the Bridge to San Francisco. As air pollution increased and congestion took its toll on commuters traveling across the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma Counties asked the District to implement a bus transit plan developed by MCTD. The plan called for bus service from neighborhoods in Marin and Sonoma counties to the San Francisco Financial District and Civic Center areas.
The mandate from the legislature was clear: Reduce traffic congestion on the Golden Gate Bridge and in the 101 Corridor. The legislature did not give the District the authority to levy taxes, nor could Bridge tolls support local intracounty transit services. Only intercounty/regional service could be subsidized by Bridge tolls.
On December 10, 1971, Assembly Bill 919 was passed requiring the District to develop a long range transportation program for the corridor. After an extensive public participation program, including 21 public hearings in six counties, a unified system of buses and ferries emerged as the best means to serve the people of Marin and Sonoma counties. The bus system is commonly known today as Golden Gate Transit (GGT) and the ferry system is known as Golden Gate Ferry (GGF). As a result of these efforts, traffic growth across the Bridge has been held to a manageable level.
Bus service began in December 1970 when GGBHTD initiated a shuttle bus service to Sausalito Ferry using five leased Greyhound coaches and four drivers on four bus routes, and it bought 132 newly-purchased buses to start its operations. In the process, in September 1971, the District hired 30 experienced Greyhound drivers to provide the bus services. In December 1971, local Marin County bus service was initiated under contract to Marin County Transit District (MCTD), and the District established Transbay commute service in January 1972, with 152 buses (20 leased) and facilities in Novato and Santa Rosa, and a temporary facility in San Rafael. In 1974, the District opened its bus administration and central maintenance facility in San Rafael.
In 1992, the District and the City of San Rafael opened the C. Paul Bettini Transit Center in San Rafael (also called San Rafael Transit Center
), GGT’s busiest transit station and transfer point. With the Transit Center's opening, GGT, acting on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), began operation of regional bus service between Marin and Contra Costa counties via the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in 1993. That same year, the district initiated an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) intercounty complementary paratransit service through an agreement with Marin County and its paratransit contractor, Whistlestop Wheels.
The District went online in 1997, allowing passengers and visitors to browse through the District's history and updates. Bus schedules were added to the website in 2004. Also in 1997, the District installed bicycle racks at more than 40 key bus stops. In 1999, it installed bicycle racks on all GGT buses shorter than 45 feet (13.7 m).
In 2006, GGBHTD installed bicycle racks on all 45 feet (13.7 m) GGT buses, allowing more Transbay commuters to ride their bikes to go to and from San Francisco. That same year, the District implemented a new TransLink
fare payment system on all bus and ferry services as an initial “pre-launch” test.
With growing concerns over the environment and global warming, in 2008, GGT tested a Zero-Emissions Bus (ZEB) using hydrogen fuel cell power on select Marin County routes. (See article here.) On June 15, 2009, Golden Gate Transit started a new basic service that is similar to the Bus Rapid Transit
concept, called Route 101 that complements with the existing Route 80, and it currently operates weekdays and Saturdays (except holidays) between San Francisco and Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. For a description of this service, click here.
and Sound Transit
(Seattle) and unlike many other transit agencies, are suburban-style coaches fitted with high-back seats, overhead luggage bins, and reading lights.
Three-position bicycle racks were installed on all Orion and single-door NovaBus RTS buses in 2009. These racks had already been installed on the New Flyer D60LF buses at the time. The remaining buses with exterior racks (TMC RTS and two-door NovaBus RTS buses) were not equipped with the new racks due to safety concerns related to headlight visibility. The two-door NovaBus RTS buses were fitted with three-position bicycle racks in 2010.
Note: † On buses operated on Routes 40 and 42, two additional bicycles are allowed in the wheelchair securement area on a space-available basis when the exterior bike rack is filled.
Note:
(now known as Clipper Card).
Note:
Clipper card users get 20% discounts for adult inter-county travel and travel within the East Bay, and 10% discounts for adult travel within Marin County. No discount is provided to Clipper card users traveling within San Francisco or Sonoma County. Clipper cards are also issued for youths, seniors, and the disabled, but there is no additional discount over the 50% discount offered to cash-paying customers.
Transferring between buses. Transfers are valid for 3 hours for intra-county travel and 4 hours for inter-county travel. Transfers may be used up to 3 times to complete a one-way journey. Transfers are issued by the farebox.
Transferring from bus to ferry. Deposit full Transbay fare (see ferry fare table here
) in the farebox when boarding the bus, and the bus operator will issue a transbay transfer.
Transferring from ferry to bus. Ferry customers wishing to transfer to the bus must use Clipper.
Value Cards are available in $18 and $36 denominations for travel within Marin County. Value Cards provide 10% discounts for adult travel. Value Cards can be used by youths, seniors, and the disabled, but there is no additional discount over the 50% discount offered to cash-paying customers. Passengers must request the appropriate discount fare before inserting Value Cards into the farebox to avoid being charged the regular fare. The Value Cards are valid on all Marin Transit routes and on the Marin County portions of all GGT routes only. The $18 and $36 Value Cards are not valid for travel outside Marin County.
Day passes are available for unlimited travel within Marin County for 1, 7, or 31 consecutive calendar days. The passes are valid on all Marin Transit routes and on the Marin County portions of all GGT routes only. Day passes are not valid for travel outside Marin County.
Marin Transit Youth Pass ($175 for six months, $325 for one school year) provides unlimited rides on Marin Transit local routes within Marin County only. The pass is not valid on GGT commute or regional basic routes.
, which provide bus parking and most of which also act as maintenance centers. Buses that pull out from one yard do not necessarily pull in to the same yard at the end of the service day.
Golden Gate Transit, in partnership with AC Transit
and other large bus agencies, is participating in the California Fuel Cell Program sponsored by the California Air Resources Board
and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
, in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE)
. The partnership involves a demonstration of three fuel-cell powered buses that reduce dependence of gasoline for fuel, and instead use alternative, renewable resources such as hydrogen and fuel cells to power buses. GGT operated a hydrogen fuel cell bus as part of a Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Demonstration Program for Golden Gate Transit routes operated under contract with Marin Transit from February 19, 2008 to March 31, 2008. The ZEB bus was not equipped with a farebox capable of registering GGT fares, so no fares were collected during the trial period.
North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
The North Bay is a subregion of the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, United States. The largest city is Santa Rosa. It is by far the least populous and least urbanized part of the Bay Area...
of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It mainly serves Marin
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
and Sonoma
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
Counties, and also provides limited service to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
.
Golden Gate Transit is one of three transportation systems owned and operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District is a quasi-governmental corporation that owns and operates three regional transportation assets in the San Francisco Bay Area:* Golden Gate Bridge* Golden Gate Transit* Golden Gate Ferry...
, the other two being the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
and Golden Gate Ferry
Golden Gate Ferry
Golden Gate Ferry is one of three transportation systems owned and operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. The other two are the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Transit bus service, which connects San Francisco to Marin County...
, both of which connect San Francisco and Marin County. Funding for cross-bridge services is partially subsidized by bridge tolls, in addition to the traditional federal and state sources. Bus service within Marin County is provided under contract with Marin Transit
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 , it was rebranded as Marin Transit on 30 July 2007...
.
Governance
Golden Gate Transit is constituted as a special districtSpecial-purpose district
Special-purpose districts or special district governments in the United States are independent governmental units that exist separately from, and with substantial administrative and fiscal independence from, general purpose local governments such as county, municipal, and township governments. As...
under California State Law, as evidenced by Assembly Bill 584, creating the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District) (GGBHTD). The District consists of 19 directors from six Northern California counties:
- San Francisco (9 Directors) - one Director appointed by the Mayor, 4 Directors are elected members by the Board of Supervisors, and 4 Directors are non-elected public members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
- Marin (4 Directors) - two Directors are elected members of the Board of Supervisors, 1 Director is an elected member of the Council of Mayors and Councilmembers and is appointed by the Board of Supervisors, and 1 Director is a non-elected public member appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
- Sonoma (3 Directors) - one Director is an elected member of the Board of Supervisors, 1 Director is an elected member of the Council of Mayors and Councilmembers and is appointed by the Board of Supervisors, and 1 Director is a non-elected public member appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
- Napa, Mendocino, and Del Norte (1 Director each) - the director is a non-elected public member appointed by each county's Board of Supervisors.
History
Inception (1960s)
The Golden Gate Bridge, operated by the GGBHTD, has seen a huge increase of the number of crossings every year, from just 3.3 million in its opening year (1937) to 28.3 million thirty years later (1967). With an annual increase in traffic within the thirty-year gap averaging 70%, the Bridge was close to reaching the saturation point that the public needed an alternative to the private automobile. As congestion mounted, several studies were undertaken to identify alternate means of travel between Marin County and San Francisco. The "San Francisco-Marin Crossings" report of May 1967 even looked at the possibility of building another bridge. The Marin County Transit District (MCTD) (now Marin Transit), at the time, considered taking over the existing GreyhoundGreyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
system as a commute service to San Francisco. Greyhound provided transit between Marin and San Francisco at the time and it was unprofitable, so management wanted to abandon it. The Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District (District), the operator of the Bridge, also considered adding a second deck to the Bridge. During the time, traffic-relieving measures were implemented, including reversible lanes were inaugurated on the Bridge in 1963, and initiated a very successful one-way toll collection (the first in the world) in 1968 that has been used in other bridges throughout the world; the traffic, however, kept growing.
In the mid-1960s, with the building boom taking place in Marin and Sonoma counties, thousands of commuters were traveling by automobile across the Bridge to San Francisco. As air pollution increased and congestion took its toll on commuters traveling across the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma Counties asked the District to implement a bus transit plan developed by MCTD. The plan called for bus service from neighborhoods in Marin and Sonoma counties to the San Francisco Financial District and Civic Center areas.
Bus service begins (1969 to 1970s)
By the late 1960s, the Bridge was operating at capacity during the morning commute. Original Bridge construction bonds were due to be retired in 1971, and the District had approximately $22.8 million in reserves. On November 10, 1969, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 584 authorizing the District to develop a transportation facility plan for implementing a mass transportation program in the Golden Gate Corridor. This was to include any and all forms of transit, including ferry. At that time, the word "Transportation" was added to the District's name to indicate its new commitment to public transportation.The mandate from the legislature was clear: Reduce traffic congestion on the Golden Gate Bridge and in the 101 Corridor. The legislature did not give the District the authority to levy taxes, nor could Bridge tolls support local intracounty transit services. Only intercounty/regional service could be subsidized by Bridge tolls.
On December 10, 1971, Assembly Bill 919 was passed requiring the District to develop a long range transportation program for the corridor. After an extensive public participation program, including 21 public hearings in six counties, a unified system of buses and ferries emerged as the best means to serve the people of Marin and Sonoma counties. The bus system is commonly known today as Golden Gate Transit (GGT) and the ferry system is known as Golden Gate Ferry (GGF). As a result of these efforts, traffic growth across the Bridge has been held to a manageable level.
Bus service began in December 1970 when GGBHTD initiated a shuttle bus service to Sausalito Ferry using five leased Greyhound coaches and four drivers on four bus routes, and it bought 132 newly-purchased buses to start its operations. In the process, in September 1971, the District hired 30 experienced Greyhound drivers to provide the bus services. In December 1971, local Marin County bus service was initiated under contract to Marin County Transit District (MCTD), and the District established Transbay commute service in January 1972, with 152 buses (20 leased) and facilities in Novato and Santa Rosa, and a temporary facility in San Rafael. In 1974, the District opened its bus administration and central maintenance facility in San Rafael.
System expansion (1980s to 1990s)
With declining ridership due to relocation of San Francisco jobs to the suburbs, the Transbay commute bus service was reduced significantly in 1987. However, with the increase of Marin County-based jobs, in 1990, the District initiated inter-county "commute" service from Sonoma County to Marin County employment centers.In 1992, the District and the City of San Rafael opened the C. Paul Bettini Transit Center in San Rafael (also called San Rafael Transit Center
San Rafael Transit Center
The San Rafael Transportation Center , in San Rafael, California, is the main transit center for Marin County. From San Rafael, passengers can travel throughout Marin County, to San Francisco, Contra Costa, and Sonoma Counties...
), GGT’s busiest transit station and transfer point. With the Transit Center's opening, GGT, acting on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), began operation of regional bus service between Marin and Contra Costa counties via the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in 1993. That same year, the district initiated an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) intercounty complementary paratransit service through an agreement with Marin County and its paratransit contractor, Whistlestop Wheels.
The District went online in 1997, allowing passengers and visitors to browse through the District's history and updates. Bus schedules were added to the website in 2004. Also in 1997, the District installed bicycle racks at more than 40 key bus stops. In 1999, it installed bicycle racks on all GGT buses shorter than 45 feet (13.7 m).
GGT today (2000s to Present)
With falling ridership, two significant reductions in bus service took place in 2003: the first in March, followed by a much more extensive restructuring in November, in which both aimed at low ridership services in response to fiscal emergency. In 2004, the District signed a new 18-month contract with MCTD to provide local bus service within Marin County. This contract exemplified a new stage in local and regional service integration, with MCTD assuming more control over local bus service planning and operation, and in 2006, the contract was extended through FY 2011.In 2006, GGBHTD installed bicycle racks on all 45 feet (13.7 m) GGT buses, allowing more Transbay commuters to ride their bikes to go to and from San Francisco. That same year, the District implemented a new TransLink
TransLink (San Francisco Bay Area)
The Clipper card is a reloadable contactless smart card used for electronic transit fare payment in the San Francisco Bay Area. First introduced as Translink in 2002 by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission as a pilot program, Clipper was rebranded into its current form and launched in 2010...
fare payment system on all bus and ferry services as an initial “pre-launch” test.
With growing concerns over the environment and global warming, in 2008, GGT tested a Zero-Emissions Bus (ZEB) using hydrogen fuel cell power on select Marin County routes. (See article here.) On June 15, 2009, Golden Gate Transit started a new basic service that is similar to the Bus Rapid Transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
concept, called Route 101 that complements with the existing Route 80, and it currently operates weekdays and Saturdays (except holidays) between San Francisco and Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. For a description of this service, click here.
Service Area
Golden Gate Transit serves cities and communities in four Bay Area counties: San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and Contra Costa.Cities, Communities, and Attractions Served
| County | Cities and Communities | Attractions |
|---|---|---|
Contra Costa County Contra Costa County, California Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025... |
|
El Cerrito del Norte (BART station) El Cerrito del Norte, frequenly shorterned to del Norte, is one of two BART stations in El Cerrito, California, just east of the Cutting Boulevard interchange of Interstate 80 parallel to San Pablo Avenue and the Ohlone Greenway straddling the Richmond border. Del Norte opened to revenue service on... Richmond Station (California) Richmond Station is an at-grade Bay Area Rapid Transit and Amtrak station located in Richmond, California. Each system is served by an island platform. The Capitol Corridor, San Joaquins, California Zephyr, and Coast Starlight stop here and connect to BART. The station is currently being rebuilt... |
| Marin County Marin County, California Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well... |
Belvedere, California Belvedere is an affluent city in Marin County, California, United States. Belvedere is located northeast of Sausalito, at an elevation of 36 feet... Corte Madera, California Corte Madera is an incorporated town in Marin County, California, United States. Corte Madera is located south of San Rafael, at an elevation of 39 feet . The population was 9,253 at the 2010 census... Fairfax, California Fairfax is an incorporated town in Marin County, California, United States. Fairfax is located west-northwest of San Rafael, at an elevation of 115 feet... Greenbrae, California Greenbrae is a small community in Marin County, California. It is located south-southeast of downtown San Rafael, at an elevation of 33 feet , located adjacent to U.S. Route 101 at the opening of the Ross Valley. Part of Greenbrae is an unincorporated community of the county while the remaining... Kentfield, California Kentfield is a census-designated place in Marin County, California, United States, just north of San Francisco. Kentfield is located on the Northwestern Pacific Railroad southwest of downtown San Rafael, at an elevation of 115 feet . The population was 6,485 at the 2010 census... Larkspur, California Larkspur is a city in Marin County, California, United States. Larkspur is located south of San Rafael, at an elevation of . As of the 2010 Census, the city's population was 11,926. Larkspur is located north of San Francisco near Mount Tamalpais. Larkspur's Police Department is shared with that... Marin City, California Marin City, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Marin County, California, United States. It is located northwest of downtown Sausalito, at an elevation of 23 feet . Marin City was developed for housing starting in 1942, to accommodate war-time shipyard workers and other... Mill Valley, California Mill Valley is a city in Marin County, California, United States located about north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge. The population was 13,903 at the 2010 census.Mill Valley is located on the western and northern shores of Richardson Bay... Novato, California Novato is a city located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, in northern Marin County. Novato is located about north-northwest of San Rafael, at an elevation of 30 feet above sea level . The 2010 U.S. Census estimated the city population to be about 51,904. Novato is about ...
Ross, California Ross is a small incorporated town in Marin County, California, United States, just north of San Francisco. Ross is located west-southwest of San Rafael, at an elevation of 36 feet . The population was 2,415 at the 2010 census... San Anselmo, California San Anselmo is an incorporated town in Marin County, California, in the western United States. San Anselmo is located west of San Rafael, at an elevation of 46 feet . It is located about north of San Francisco. Neighboring towns include San Rafael to the east, Fairfax to the west, and Ross to the... San Rafael, California San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
Sausalito, California Sausalito is a San Francisco Bay Area city, in Marin County, California, United States. Sausalito is south-southeast of San Rafael, at an elevation of 13 feet . The population was 7,061 as of the 2010 census. The community is situated near the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, and prior to... Sleepy Hollow, Marin County, California Sleepy Hollow is a census-designated place in Marin County, California. It is located south of downtown Novato, at an elevation of 177 feet . Its population as of the 2010 census is 2,384.... Tiburon, California Tiburon is an incorporated town in Marin County, California. It occupies most of the Tiburon Peninsula, which reaches south into the San Francisco Bay. The smaller city of Belvedere occupies the south-east part of the peninsula and is contiguous with Tiburon... |
College of Marin The College of Marin is a community college in Marin County, California, U.S., with two campuses, one in Kentfield, and the second in Novato. It is the only institution operated by the Marin Community College District. Its chief executive officer is currently Superintendent/President David Wain...
Dominican University of California Dominican University of California is a four year, accredited, private, Catholic-heritage, and co-educational institution located in San Rafael, California. Founded in 1890 as Dominican College, Dominican is one of the oldest universities in California. The U.S. News and World Report ranks... (San Rafael) Fort Baker Fort Baker is one of the components of California's Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The Fort, which borders the City of Sausalito in Marin County and is connected to San Francisco by the Golden Gate Bridge, served as an Army post until the mid-1990s, when the headquarters of the 91st Division... Marin County Civic Center Marin County Civic Center, the last commission by Frank Lloyd Wright, is located in San Rafael, California. Groundbreaking for the Civic Center Administration Building took place in 1960, after Wright's death and under the watch of Wright's protégé, Aaron Green, and was completed in 1962. The... The Mall at Northgate The Northgate Mall, is a shopping mall located in San Rafael, California, north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It's the largest of three shopping centers in San Rafael called Northgate. It is managed by The Macerich Company. It is the only enclosed regional shopping center in Marin County. The mall's... (Terra Linda) San Rafael Transit Center The San Rafael Transportation Center , in San Rafael, California, is the main transit center for Marin County. From San Rafael, passengers can travel throughout Marin County, to San Francisco, Contra Costa, and Sonoma Counties... The Village at Corte Madera The Village at Corte Madera is an upscale shopping mall located in Corte Madera, California. It is owned and managed by Macerich and is located on U.S. Route 101 at Paradise Drive. It is anchored by Macy's and Nordstrom.-History:... |
| San Francisco San Francisco, California San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland... |
San Francisco |
Civic Center, San Francisco, California The Civic Center in San Francisco, California, is an area of a few blocks north of the intersection of Market Street and Van Ness Avenue that contains many of the city's largest government and cultural institutions. It has two large plazas and a number of buildings in classical architectural style...
Financial District, San Francisco, California The Financial District is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, that serves as its main central business district. The nickname "FiDi" is occasionally employed, analogous to nearby SoMa.-Location:...
Golden Gate Bridge The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to... Presidio of San Francisco The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
|
| Sonoma County Sonoma County, California Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa.... |
Cotati, California Cotati is an incorporated city in Sonoma County, California, U.S.A., located about north of San Francisco in the 101 corridor between Rohnert Park and Petaluma.... Petaluma, California Petaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. In the 2010 Census the population was 57,941.Located in Petaluma is the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, a National Historic Landmark. It was built beginning in 1836 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Commandant of the San... Rohnert Park, California Rohnert Park is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately north of San Francisco. The population at the 2010 United States Census was 40,971. It is an early planned city, modeled directly after Levittown, New York and Levittown, Pennsylvania. Rohnert Park is the... Santa Rosa, California Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th... |
Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa Junior College is a community college located in the city of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California. Founded in 1918, it is the tenth oldest community college in the state. Santa Rosa Junior College was modeled as a "junior" version of nearby University of California at Berkeley...
Santa Rosa Transit Mall The Santa Rosa Transit Mall is a major transfer point for several bus routes serving the city of Santa Rosa, California, located in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, in the United States... |
Fleet
Historically and up to the present, buses in the Golden Gate Transit fleet, similar to SamTransSamTrans
SamTrans is a public transport agency in and around San Mateo, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It provides bus service throughout San Mateo County and into portions of San Francisco and Palo Alto...
and Sound Transit
Sound Transit
Sound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
(Seattle) and unlike many other transit agencies, are suburban-style coaches fitted with high-back seats, overhead luggage bins, and reading lights.
Current fleet
As of December 2010, the GGT active bus fleet consists of 195 lift-equipped buses. All 30-, 35-, 40-, and 60 feet (18.3 m) buses have front-mounted bike racks capable of holding 2 or 3 bicycles; all 45 ft (13.7 m). buses have luggage bay bike racks capable of holding 2 bicycles.Three-position bicycle racks were installed on all Orion and single-door NovaBus RTS buses in 2009. These racks had already been installed on the New Flyer D60LF buses at the time. The remaining buses with exterior racks (TMC RTS and two-door NovaBus RTS buses) were not equipped with the new racks due to safety concerns related to headlight visibility. The two-door NovaBus RTS buses were fitted with three-position bicycle racks in 2010.
| Length (feet) | Year | Make and model | Floor type | Number of seats | Bicycle capacity† | Fuel propulsion | Quantity | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2001 | NovaBus RTS Rapid Transit Series The Rapid Transit Series bus is a long-running series of transit buses originally manufactured by General Motors and is currently produced by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend. Millennium had produced the buses from 2006 until it shut down production in 2009, only to be bought back... |
High | 27 | 2 | Diesel | 4 |  |
| 35 | 2010 | New Flyer DE35LF | Low | 29 | 3 | Diesel-electric hybrid Diesel-electric Diesel-electric transmission or diesel-electric powertrain is used by a number of vehicle and ship types for providing locomotion.A diesel-electric transmission system includes a diesel engine connected to an electrical generator, creating electricity that powers electric traction motors... |
7 | |
| 40 | 1991 | TMC TMC TMC may stand for:*Tennis Masters Cup, a part of the ATP World Tour Finals*Thomas & Mack Center, an indoor arena on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas opened in 1983.*Timaru Mongrel Club, Timaru, South Canterbury, New Zealand... RTS |
High | 40 | 2 | Diesel | 5 |  |
| 2000 | NovaBus RTS | 39 | 3 | 14 |  |
|||
| 2003 | Orion Bus Industries Orion Bus Industries Orion International, previously Orion Bus Industries and Ontario Bus Industries in Canada and Bus Industries of America in the United States, is a bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and established by the Government of Ontario in 1975... V |
41 | 3 | 80 |  |
|||
| 45 | 1996, 1997, 1999 | MCI Motor Coach Industries Motor Coach Industries International Inc. is an American bus manufacturer based in Schaumburg, Illinois, and is a leading participant in the North American coach bus industry. It has various operating subsidiaries:... 102DL3 |
High | 57 | 2 | Diesel | 46 |  |
| 2003 | MCI D4500 | 57 | 2 | 6 |  |
|||
| 2010 | MCI D4500CT | 57 | 2 | 23 | ||||
| 60 (articulated Articulated bus An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint... ) |
2007 | New Flyer D60LF | Low | 58 | 3 | Diesel | 10 |  |
Note: † On buses operated on Routes 40 and 42, two additional bicycles are allowed in the wheelchair securement area on a space-available basis when the exterior bike rack is filled.
Historical fleet
Golden Gate Transit has operated a variety of suburban-style coaches since its inception.| Make | Year placed in service | Quantity | Number of seats | Wheelchair accessible? | Image | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GM General Motors General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010... "New Look" |
1971/1972 | 132 | 45 | No | Retired; one bus retained for historical purposes | |
| GM Advanced Design | 1981 | 16 | 43 | Yes | N/A | Retired |
| GM Advanced Design | 1983 | 50 | 41 | Yes | N/A | Retired |
| Gillig | 1986 | 4 | 26 | Yes | N/A | Retired |
| MCI Motor Coach Industries Motor Coach Industries International Inc. is an American bus manufacturer based in Schaumburg, Illinois, and is a leading participant in the North American coach bus industry. It has various operating subsidiaries:... |
1987 | 21 | 45 | Yes | N/A | Retired |
| TMC Transportation Manufacturing Corporation Transportation Manufacturing Corporation was a bus manufacturer based in Roswell, New Mexico.The company was formed in 1974 by Greyhound Bus Lines to manufacture Motor Coach Industries vehicles... |
1990 | 48 | 39 | Yes | N/A | Retired |
| TMC | 1991 | 26 | 40 | Yes | |
Reserve fleet (23), for sale (3) |
| Flxible Flxible The Flxible Co. was a motorcycle sidecar, funeral car, ambulance, intercity coach and transit bus manufacturing company based in the United States that was founded in 1913, and which closed in 1996.-History:In 1913, Hugo H. Young and Carl F... |
1994 | 40 | 45 | Yes | N/A | Retired (27), for sale (13) |
| NovaBus | 1997 | 10 | 43 | Yes |  |
For sale |
| New Flyer New Flyer Industries New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:... |
2003† | 8 | 62 | Yes | N/A | For sale |
Note:
- † These New Flyer buses were purchased used from SamTransSamTransSamTrans is a public transport agency in and around San Mateo, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It provides bus service throughout San Mateo County and into portions of San Francisco and Palo Alto...
in 2003. They were originally manufactured in 1990.
Fares
Golden Gate Transit charges different fares, depending on distance (zones) traveled and method of payment. Fares can be paid with cash, Value Card, or TransLinkTransLink (San Francisco Bay Area)
The Clipper card is a reloadable contactless smart card used for electronic transit fare payment in the San Francisco Bay Area. First introduced as Translink in 2002 by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission as a pilot program, Clipper was rebranded into its current form and launched in 2010...
(now known as Clipper Card).
| Fare category | Number of zones traveled | Cash fare | Discounted fare (Value Card or TransLink/Clipper) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | Within San Francisco† or within Sonoma County | US$3.75 | US$3.75 |
| Within 2 zones or East Bay to any point in Marin County or within East Bay | US$4.25 | US$3.40 | |
| Within 3 zones | US$5.25 | US$4.20 | |
| Within 4 zones | US$6.50 | US$5.20 | |
| 5 zones (Southern Marin County to Santa Rosa) | US$7.50 | US$6.00 | |
| 5 zones (San Francisco to Petaluma, Rohnert Park, or Cotati) | US$9.25 | US$7.40 | |
| 6 zones (San Francisco to Santa Rosa) | US$10.25 | US$8.20 | |
| From East Bay to San Francisco or Sonoma County | US$8.00 | US$6.40 | |
| Within Marin County | US$2.00 | US$1.80 | |
| Youth (6 through 18), Senior (65 and over), Disabled , or Medicare | Within San Francisco† or within Sonoma County | US$1.75 | No additional discount |
| Within 2 zones, East Bay to any point in Marin County, or within East Bay | US$2.00 | ||
| Within 3 zones | US$2.50 | ||
| Within 4 zones | US$3.25 | ||
| 5 zones (Southern Marin County to Santa Rosa) | US$3.75 | ||
| 5 zones (San Francisco to Petaluma, Rohnert Park, or Cotati) | US$4.50 | ||
| 6 zones (San Francisco to Santa Rosa) | US$5.00 | ||
| From East Bay to San Francisco or Sonoma County | US$4.00 | ||
| Within Marin County | US$1.00 | ||
| Children 5 years old and younger (limit 2 per full-fare adult) | All bus routes | Free | Free |
Note:
- † Travel within San Francisco is to/from the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza or the PresidioPresidio of San FranciscoThe Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
(Richardson Avenue and Francisco Street) only.
Clipper card users get 20% discounts for adult inter-county travel and travel within the East Bay, and 10% discounts for adult travel within Marin County. No discount is provided to Clipper card users traveling within San Francisco or Sonoma County. Clipper cards are also issued for youths, seniors, and the disabled, but there is no additional discount over the 50% discount offered to cash-paying customers.
Transfers within the Golden Gate system
Transfers within the Golden Gate system (GGT buses and Golden Gate Ferries) are issued at time of payment, and restrictions apply. Clipper automatically tracks transfers.Transferring between buses. Transfers are valid for 3 hours for intra-county travel and 4 hours for inter-county travel. Transfers may be used up to 3 times to complete a one-way journey. Transfers are issued by the farebox.
Transferring from bus to ferry. Deposit full Transbay fare (see ferry fare table here
Golden Gate Ferry
Golden Gate Ferry is one of three transportation systems owned and operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. The other two are the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Transit bus service, which connects San Francisco to Marin County...
) in the farebox when boarding the bus, and the bus operator will issue a transbay transfer.
Transferring from ferry to bus. Ferry customers wishing to transfer to the bus must use Clipper.
Transfers between Golden Gate Transit and other agencies
Agreements with various transit agencies exist with Golden Gate Transit.- AC TransitAC TransitAC Transit is an Oakland-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County and parts of western Contra Costa County in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area...
- From GGT: Accepts GGT transfers as full payment of local fare for continuing travel on the first AC Transit bus boarded in the East Bay.
- To GGT: Accepts AC Transit transfers for $2.00 adult fare credit ($1.00 youth/senior/disabled) on Routes 40/42.
- Marin TransitMarin TransitMarin Transit is a public bus agency in Marin County, California, in the United States. Originally formed in 1964 as Marin County Transit District , it was rebranded as Marin Transit on 30 July 2007...
Routes 221, 233, and 259 (shuttle service) and Routes 61, 62, and 68 (West Marin Stagecoach)- From GGT: Accepts GGT transfers for free travel.
- To GGT: Accepts Marin Transit transfers for a $2.00 adult local fare credit ($1.00 youth/senior/disabled) for continuing travel within Marin County. Transfers from Marin Transit are accepted for travel on GGT outside Marin County if the appropriate regional fare is paid.
- Petaluma TransitPetaluma TransitPetaluma Transit is the public bus service in the city of Petaluma, Sonoma County, California. The system connects with several Sonoma County Transit routes for further travel within the county and Golden Gate Transit routes for travel between the city, Marin County, and San Francisco.Hours of...
- From GGT: Accepts GGT transfers for a full local fare credit.
- To GGT: Accepts Petaluma Transit transfers for a $1.00 fare credit for adults ($0.50 youth/senior/disabled).
- San Francisco MUNISan Francisco Municipal RailwayThe San Francisco Municipal Railway is the public transit system for the city and county of San Francisco, California. In 2006, it served with an operating budget of about $700 million...
- From GGT: Adult Clipper customers transferring from GGT to Muni receive a $0.50 credit on their Muni Clipper fare (excludes Muni Period Passes); youth, senior, and disabled Clipper customers are not covered by the transfer credit. Cash-paying customers do not receive any transfer discount or credit towards travel on Muni.
- To GGT: Clipper customers transferring from Muni to GGT receive a $0.50 ($0.25 youth/senior/disabled) credit on their GGT Clipper fare. Cash-paying customers do not receive any transfer discount or credit towards travel on Golden Gate Transit.
- Santa Rosa CityBusSanta Rosa CityBusSanta Rosa CityBus is a public transportation agency providing bus service in the northern California city of Santa Rosa. It provides service for over 2.8 million passenger trips annually. -Routes:...
- From GGT: Accepts GGT transfers for a full local fare credit.
- To GGT: Accepts Santa Rosa CityBus transfers for a $1.00 fare credit for adults ($0.50 youth/senior/disabled).
- Sonoma County TransitSonoma County TransitSonoma County Transit is a public transportation system based in Sonoma County, California.-Cities and communities served:As the primary bus system in the county, Sonoma County Transit operates to the following communities, listed by zones from south to north:Sonoma Coast and Russian River:*...
- From GGT: Accepts GGT transfers for a local (one-zone) fare credit only.
- To GGT: Accepts Sonoma County Transit transfers for a $1.00 fare credit for adults ($0.50 youth/senior/disabled).
- Vallejo Transit
- From GGT: Accepts GGT transfers at the El Cerrito del Norte BART Station for a $1.00 adult/youth fare credit ($0.50 senior/disabled) for travel to Solano County.
- To GGT: Accepts Vallejo Transit transfers at the El Cerrito del Norte BART Station for a $2.00 adult fare credit ($1.00 youth/senior/disabled).
- WestCATWestCATWestCAT is a public transportation service in western Contra Costa County . It is a service of the Western Contra Costa Transit Authority....
- From GGT: Accepts GGT transfers at the El Cerrito del Norte BART Station for a $0.50 adult/youth fare credit ($0.25 senior/disabled) for travel within western Contra Costa County.
- To GGT: Accepts WestCAT transfers at the El Cerrito del Norte BART Station for a $2.00 adult fare credit ($1.00 youth/senior/disabled).
Intersystem pass programs
GGT participates in three fare programs controlled by Marin Transit:Value Cards are available in $18 and $36 denominations for travel within Marin County. Value Cards provide 10% discounts for adult travel. Value Cards can be used by youths, seniors, and the disabled, but there is no additional discount over the 50% discount offered to cash-paying customers. Passengers must request the appropriate discount fare before inserting Value Cards into the farebox to avoid being charged the regular fare. The Value Cards are valid on all Marin Transit routes and on the Marin County portions of all GGT routes only. The $18 and $36 Value Cards are not valid for travel outside Marin County.
Day passes are available for unlimited travel within Marin County for 1, 7, or 31 consecutive calendar days. The passes are valid on all Marin Transit routes and on the Marin County portions of all GGT routes only. Day passes are not valid for travel outside Marin County.
| Fare category | 1-day pass | 7-day pass | 31-day pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | US$5.00 | US$20.00 | US$80.00 |
| Youth (6 through 18) | US$2.50 | US$10.00 | US$40.00 |
| Senior (65 and over), Disabled , or Medicare | US$2.50 | US$10.00 | US$25.00 |
Marin Transit Youth Pass ($175 for six months, $325 for one school year) provides unlimited rides on Marin Transit local routes within Marin County only. The pass is not valid on GGT commute or regional basic routes.
Funding
Golden Gate Transit is different from other key transit agencies, in that its funding is subsidized by tolls collected at the Golden Gate Bridge. According to the mandate presented by Assembly Bill 584 passed by the California State Legislature on November 10, 1969, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District (District) has no authority to levy taxes, nor it could fund intra-county bus services; only inter-county service could be subsidized by Bridge tolls.Bus garages
Golden Gate Transit operates four bus yardsBus garage
A bus garage or bus depot is a building where buses are stored and maintained. In many conurbations, bus garages are on the site of former car barns or tram sheds, where Streetcars or Trams were stored, and the operation transferred to buses...
, which provide bus parking and most of which also act as maintenance centers. Buses that pull out from one yard do not necessarily pull in to the same yard at the end of the service day.
San Rafael (Division 1)
Called D1 by Golden Gate Transit, the San Rafael yard (at 1011 Andersen Drive) is the main bus depot for Golden Gate Transit service and services contracted by Marin Transit. In addition to bus parking and administrative offices, major facilities for bus repairs and reconstruction are provided, including a work shop, motor repair unit, engine rebuild unit, transmission shop, upholstery shop, bus wash, and body component area. This yard operates every day, including holidays.Novato (Division 2)
Called D2, the Novato yard (on Golden Gate Place just east of Redwood Blvd.) is a secondary yard that primarily operates on weekdays. This facility includes bus parking, a bus wash, and a repair unit. Like the San Rafael facility, Golden Gate Transit service and services contracted by Marin Transit operate to and from this yard, and it acts as a back-up facility for buses on weekends and holidays.Santa Rosa (Division 3)
Called D3, the Santa Rosa yard (at Piner Road and Industrial Drive) is the sole bus depot for Golden Gate Transit services operating in Sonoma County. This facility has features similar to D1 and D2 but also has an enclosed passenger waiting area and a free park-and-ride lot. D3 is in operation daily, including holidays; it is not, however, a base for any Marin Transit services.San Francisco (Division 4)
Called D4, the San Francisco Yard (at 8th and Harrison Streets) is primarily a layover lot for buses serving San Francisco. The facility includes bus parking. No maintenance is performed at this location, and, similar to D3, services contracted by Marin Transit do not operate from this yard. D4 is in operation every day, including holidays.Fuel cell bus partnerships
AC Transit
AC Transit is an Oakland-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County and parts of western Contra Costa County in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area...
and other large bus agencies, is participating in the California Fuel Cell Program sponsored by the California Air Resources Board
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board, also known as CARB or ARB, is the "clean air agency" in the government of California. Established in 1967 in the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board, CARB is a department within the...
and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
, in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE)
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
. The partnership involves a demonstration of three fuel-cell powered buses that reduce dependence of gasoline for fuel, and instead use alternative, renewable resources such as hydrogen and fuel cells to power buses. GGT operated a hydrogen fuel cell bus as part of a Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Demonstration Program for Golden Gate Transit routes operated under contract with Marin Transit from February 19, 2008 to March 31, 2008. The ZEB bus was not equipped with a farebox capable of registering GGT fares, so no fares were collected during the trial period.