Alternative Transportation

The Department of Public Safety & Transportation actively works with members of the campus community and the Town of Moraga to implement effective transportation programs to reduce single-occupancy vehicle traffic, enhance the campus sustainability efforts, and improve the commuter parking experience on campus. We encourage you to consider alternative modes of transportation to work/school as often as possible to help SMC with its goal of lowering the single-occupancy vehicles (SOVs) coming onto campus.
Bus with "Lafayette Bart" on the front.

Bus & BART

Ride BART to school/work and take the CCCTA Bus Line 6 for FREE from Lafayette or Orinda to SMC simply by showing your SMC ID. Schedule information here.

Gideon Gael leaning into a car

Saint Mary's Ride Smart Program with Lyft

Saint Mary's has a partnership for shared ride subsidies with Lyft ride-hailing service.  You can use your existing Lyft account by adding your Saint Mary's email address to it.

Shared rides that start or end at Saint Mary’s College and are to/from designated pick-up/drop off points will be subsidized for the first $15 of the ride. The designated pick-up/drop off points will include the Orinda, Lafayette, and Walnut Creek BART stations, two points in the Ascot/Donald Dr. residential area, Moraga Safeway, and within walking distance of the Walnut Creek Target.

The user will be responsible for costs exceeding $15.  Each account will be limited to 50 rides per month.

Students and Employees will receive an introductory email from Saint Mary's and Lyft to enroll in the program.  The program will not include days when the College is closed (e.g. Winter Break). Check your email from Saint Mary’s and Lyft for instructions to activate the program.

We will be monitoring data from Lyft to evaluate use patterns and opportunities for refinement in Spring 2020.

Bikes parked in bike rack.

Bike/ Walk

The 7.65-mile Lafayette-Moraga Regional biking and walking trail parallels St. Mary's Road through Lafayette and Moraga. Get the details on safe routes and incentives here.

Arial View of Cars parked

Carpool

Find a SMC friend, or two, or three, who is interested in carpooling to SMC with you. Each of you must purchase a Carpool Permit (this allows flexibility in carpool groups). 

Carpool permits:

  • $89/year for employees
  • $60/year for students

NOTE: If you are securing a carpool permit, your carpool partner must also have a carpool permit. Both permits will need to be displayed on the vehicle dashboard (permit numbers up) when parked on SMC property.

The 511 San Francisco/Bay Area Carpool & Vanpool program and other commuting options:

511 SF/Bay Area Carpool & Vanpool is another way to find rides to SMC. Carpool & Vanpool matches can be made by applying online. Visit the 511 Contra Costa site here for details.