SMART Launches Microtransit Service in Sonoma County, CA, 2023

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) has launched a new microtransit service called SMART Connect. SMART Connect is designed to connect people commuting between the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport and the SMART Airport Station in Santa Rosa. Customers can also use SMART Connect to go to and from anywhere with the service zone between these the airport and train station. Single-ride fares on SMART Connect cost $1.50 for adults and $0.75 for youth, seniors, and people with disabilities. SMART Connect operates from 8 AM to 6 PM every day of the week. Customers can book their rides in real time through the Ride Pingo smartphone app or by calling a phone number. The Routing Company is the booking and routing technology vendor for SMART Connect, supporting the Ride Pingo application. At this time, SMART Connect has one electric van.

SMART hopes this microtransit service will ease traffic congestion and parking demand at the airport. The agency also hopes that SMART Connect will ease first- and last-mile connections to the Airport Station. With a contract secured with The Routing Company, SMART might also expand to different microtransit zones near its other train stations over the coming months and years. Microtransit often is a valuable service to people looking to connect to other shared mobility services.

Last updated July 7, 2023