Cotati Intermodal Facility and Improvements

Sonoma County Transit partnered with the City of Cotati (Cotati) to develop the Cotati Intermodal Transit Facility that will connect central Cotati, southern Rohnert Park and the Sonoma State University campus with local and intercity bus transit service and SMART commuter rail when it begins operation in late 2016.  Sonoma County Transit purchased the land for the intermodal facility, and constructed essential components such as a 75-space park and ride lot, sidewalk improvements, a bus turnout on East Cotati Avenue and traffic signals at East Cotati Avenue and Santero Way. The investment from Sonoma County Transit was about $2.9 million. Sonoma County Transit’s portion of the project was funded by grants from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Federal Transit Administration and local Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds. Sonoma County Transit collaborated with the City of Cotati on this project for about 12 years prior to construction. The City of Cotati built the depot building and pedestrian plaza area.  The Cotati Intermodal Facility is located along four Sonoma County Transit routes that serve the cities of Cotati, Rohnert Park and Sebastopol, and have connections to other cities along the Highway 101 corridor in Sonoma County and Marin.  Initially, SMART will serve passengers at seven stations between northern Santa Rosa in Sonoma County and downtown San Rafael. Additionally, construction of a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian path, adjacent to the rail corridor, is included in the project.  Sonoma State University serves 9,414 students. Undergraduates comprise 91% of the student body, and 64% of students receive financial aid. In 2015, Sonoma County Transit launched a successful pilot- program to provide free rides to college students. In November 2015, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors extended the pilot-program through 2016. In 2015, about 23,000 trips were taken by Sonoma State University students on Sonoma County Transit. Combined with this program, the new Cotati Intermodal Facility assists with removing barriers to education for thousands of college students.