The Marin County Airport at Gnoss Field is just north of downtown Novato and adjacent to the Rush Creek preserve. With quick access to Highway 101, it is a key North Bay hub for business and commercial pilots of smaller aircraft.
A dirt runway was constructed in 1960, and the county purchased it from private owners in 1973. The airport is staffed and maintained by the Marin County Department of Public Works. It has a 3,300-foot lighted runway, but there are plans to extend it by about 1,100 feet.
The airport sits on 120 acres — about 90 are developed as part of the airport — and is surrounded by marshland. The area is known for rapidly changing wind patterns, giving pilots a constant lesson in how to handle crosswinds.
A joint agency with a board representing all six Napa County municipalities – the county itself, and its five incorporated cities – the NCTPA operates the VINE bus line, which from its Pearl Street terminal operates routes within and between the cities. The VINE also transports commuters and day trippers between Napa and transportation hubs in El Cerrito del Norte (BART) and Vallejo (Baylink ferry terminal serving San Francisco). The NCTPA manages local paratransit service for riders with special needs, and coordinates spending on streets, roads and bicycle routes throughout the county.
In 2009 the NCTPA's Randolph Street headquarters became the home of the Napa County Arts and Culture Commission, which holds its monthly meetings in the agency's conference room on the first Monday afternoon of each month.
This is the government office for the Contra Costa County Director of Airports. The department oversees the administration of Buchanan Airport. Its staff is available to answer questions and give airport tours. Tours are available by appointment on weekdays. The department also handles airport development matters.