The original Northwestern Pacific (NWP) depot was built out of redwood on the site in 1879;[4] that building was moved nearby and a new one constructed in 1903.[5] The second station was destroyed in a fire in 1916,[3] and the current station building was built as its replacement. Increased automobile ownership and highway construction led to a decline of rail travel in Marin County, thus leading to disuse of the facility as a passenger terminal after November 10, 1958.[6]
Not part of the design for the original ten stations from SMART's Initial Opening Segment, funding and construction of the station was undertaken by the City of Novato.[3] Station plans were finalized in 2016 and the platform was built at a cost of $2.4 million[7] by the time trains began operation.[8] The Metropolitan Transportation Commission provided $1.5 million toward finishing the station, leaving $1.6 million to be financed via an additional source or via the city's Hamilton Trust.
By May 2018, the Phase 2 cost of construction had increased to $5.2 million.[9] The SMART Board approved the station plan in July 2018.[10] Station equipment was expected to be installed in the summer, and testing done in the fall.[11] By September 2019, the total cost was over $7 million.[12]
Original plans called for the station to only have limited service due to its proximity to the Novato San Marin station.[3][13] However, the SMART Board voted in June 2019 to instate regular, full-time service to the station;[11] testing commenced on November 8, 2019.[14] The station opened on December 14, 2019, for weekend and holiday service; weekday service began on January 1, 2020.[2]
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