Novato Downtown SMART Station Opens for Business, December 14th

Novato’s Downtown corridor gets a significant boost with the opening of the Novato Downtown SMART Station. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for Saturday December 14th at 10:30am.

“The Novato Downtown station will be a game-changer for businesses and restaurants in the heart of Novato. Visitors will be able to take advantage of Marin County’s remarkable outdoor recreation, art and culture, shopping and dining—and leave the car at home,” notes SMART Board Director Eric Lucan.

The new SMART station is Novato’s third, joining the existing Novato San Marin and Novato Hamilton stations. Located at the intersection of Grant and Railroad Avenues, the Novato Downtown station opening comes at the same time as the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District system adds a station in Larkspur, connecting SMART riders to the larger Bay Area via the Golden Gate Ferry.

A new train schedule also comes into effect on January 1st, 2020, promising expanded service on weekdays, increased frequency to carry more passengers during peak commute hours, and earlier train service on weekends.

“Downtown Novato has such a wonderful array of stores, restaurants, cafes and services, and we look forward to the additional benefits that the downtown station will bring,” notes Vicki Parker, City of Novato’s Community Development Director. “Besides opening up our downtown to new visitors, our local businesses are also employers with commuting staff. The new station will make it much easier and more efficient for their employees to utilize public transportation. It’s exciting to see our vibrant Downtown district become more accessible and more appealing than ever.”