Transit is Good for Your Health — Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit
From: Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit
A study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Session* found that riding a train or bus to work is associated with health benefits, such as lowering your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
Taking public transit is linked to a healthier lifestyle, because riders get more than 3x the daily physical activity of people who drive, just from walking to and from their transit stops and their final destination.
Staying physically active helps reduce your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. The study which compared 6000 bus/train commuters, walkers/bikers and drivers — and adjusted for factors like age, gender, and smoking— found that people who took transit had a 27% lower risk of high blood pressure, a 34% lower risk of diabetes, and a 44% lower risk of being overweight.
Start racking up fitness points
If your goal is to get fit and healthier, try making transit a part of your life. SMART has 12 stations serving Marin and Sonoma counties, and there is a train every 32 minutes during the peak commute. On weekends, service starts early and aligns with the ferry schedule making leisure and recreational trips to and from San Francisco, as well as within Marin and Sonoma counties, easy and convenient.
Planning your journey today with tools like the Transit App (iOS or Android) or Google Transit.
SMART Ridership Report
Since the launch of passenger service in 2017, SMART has carried over 1.7 million riderstraveling to jobs, schools, businesses, centers of commerce, and on recreational and leisure trips.
What do the numbers say?
SMART’s average weekday ridership has grown each year. Based on fiscal year projections, SMART's average weekday ridership is on target to grow 14.5% over its initial 3-years of operation.
85% of SMART riders travel on weekdays as a climate-friendly alternative to driving in rush hour traffic; about 10% bring a bicycle aboard the train; and 15% of riders travel on weekends.
Ridership grew despite regional set backs
Riders throughout Sonoma and Marin counties value the convenience and comfort of SMART. This is highlighted by the fact that SMART's ridership has continued to grow despite that since the agency began operations in 2017, the region has experienced two catastrophicwildfires, large floods, mass evacuations, and large scale power shutoffs, all of which resulted in disruptions to commute patterns, the loss of 6,000 homes, and a significant blow to the local economy.
SMART is part of the North Bay's economic recovery
As our community recovers from the wildfire disasters, SMART is connecting North Bay cities, providing access to places of employment, schools, and centers of commerce. The new Larkspur station is a gateway to San Francisco via the ferry and is also bringing tourists and visitors to the North Bay. Construction of the railway’s extension to Windsor is already underwayand stations are planned for North Petaluma, Healdsburg and Cloverdale — all of which promise to expand SMART's ridership.
View SMART's Ridership Reports>
station in the spotlight
Santa Rosa Downtown Station
Located in Santa Rosa’s Historic Railroad Square, the Santa Rosa Downtown station makes it easy to visit great shops, restaurants, entertainment, and so much more! Start planning your next trip to Santa Rosa on the SMART train.
Connect with Bus Services
Catch Santa Rosa CityBus or Sonoma County Transit to explore Santa Rosa. Bus stops are a short walk from the station. If using a Clipper Card, your trip on CityBus is FREE because you get a $1.50 discount on your fare when going from train to bus and vice versa.
Parking & Permits
There is metered on-street parking and as well as parking garages in the Downtown area. The City of Santa Rosa offers a discount parking permit for commuters in Garage 12 next to the Downtown Transit Mall.
Welcome Center
Visit the California Welcome Center
The California Welcome Center is your go-to place to discover all there is to see, do, eat, drink, hike, bike, and explore in Sonoma County. The Welcome Center is right next to the station and opens daily from 9 to 5.
Historic Railroad Square
Historic Railroad Square has a charming mix of antique stores, specialty shops, coffee houses, and restaurants. Check out everything waiting to be discovered with this interactive map>
Downtown Santa Rosa offers shopping, historic neighborhoods, arts and culture, events, great restaurants, wine tasting, and world renowned brew pubs.
A couple of blocks from the station is the award winning 6th Street Playhouse where you can enjoy a performance in an intimate theatre setting. They offer both day and evening performances.
Explore SMART:
