2017 Recap - 2018 Goals MCBC Road Program Update

MCBC’s Road Program builds the support needed to identify, promote, and fund bike and pedestrian improvements in Marin, with safety and connectivity between communities as the driving themes.

Key Accomplishments in 2017

• Alto Tunnel Geotechnical Investigation and Cost Estimate Update: The County concluded several years of information gathering with their final study, leaving the pursuit of funds as the next step toward reopening the tunnel.

 

• SMART Pathway Progress: SMART completed a key stretch of pathway between the Civic Center Station and North San Pedro Road, and began construction on two segments in Novato. The 2nd to Andersen project reached key checkpoints (design and environmental review) ahead of SMART’s construction of the Larkspur rail extension.

 

• Miller Avenue Streetscape Project (pictured above): Mill Valley’s main street has a new look, featuring continuous buffered bike lanes between downtown Mill Valley and Camino Alto thanks to a successful MCBC-led campaign to narrow the road from two lanes to one in each direction. MCBC was also instrumental in the project’s retention of bike improvements at the Almonte intersection after opponents asked elected officials to prioritize vehicle throughput over safety.

 

• SMART Bike Parking: SMART’s service launched with secure bike parking available at each station after a last-minute advocacy push from MCBC and our friends at Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition.

Laying the Foundation for a Strong 2018 and Beyond

We’ll bear the fruits of previous years’ labor in 2018, with several key planning efforts and projects advancing.

Notable plans that will be adopted in 2018

• San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (pictured above): Since San Rafael adopted a very disappointing, unambitious plan back in 2011, we’ve been anxiously awaiting this update. We’re confident that the new plan–expected in the next two months–will include our vision of a low-stress bike network through downtown San Rafael. The forthcoming transit center relocation plans will also play a role in the identification of key improvements through the County’s most dangerous place to walk and bike.

 

• Caltrans District 4 Bike Plan: MCBC has been heavily involved in the formation of Caltrans’ first ever bicycle plan, which seeks to improve bicycling opportunities along and across the state highway system (in Marin, these include CA-1, CA-37, US-101, CA-131, and I-580). The plan should be finalized by mid-year, and will identify priority projects on each of our highway facilities.

 

• Marin County Unincorporated Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan: Among other noteworthy items, the County’s plan expresses intent to widen Marin’s most popular recreational routes where feasible and add signage indicating cyclists’ right to the road.

Projects expected to break ground in 2018

• North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project – Northern Segment (pictured above): The next connection in the North-South Greenway will get people over Corte Madera Creek, enabling travel between Redwood Highway and the convergence of the Central Marin Ferry Connector Bridge and Corte Madera Creek Path. Completion is expected in late 2019.

 

• 2nd to Andersen Multi-Use Pathway: Whether the remaining funds are secured or not, this project will begin construction alongside SMART’s rail extension to Larkspur. How much work is done, however, will depend on the amount of funding available.

 

• Highway 1 Shoulder Widening and Signage: As part of a larger project in which Caltrans is installing centerline rumble strips along Highway 1, MCBC successfully requested that Caltrans also widen the roadway where feasible and install signage indicating cyclists’ rights to the roadway. Completion is expected in late 2018.

Key efforts to initiate or advance

• SMART Pathway Prioritization and Funding Report (pictured above): We’re partnering with Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition to deliver a report that outlines progress to date on SMART’s multi-use pathway and identifies funding opportunities for the unbuilt segments of the pathway. The report will inform how much Measure Q money is needed to complete the pathway in a timely manner.

 

• Alto Tunnel: After an incredibly successful joint-fundraising effort in December 2017, Friends of Alto Tunnel–which is composed primarily of Mill Valley and Corte Madera neighbors–and MCBC will continue to build public support for the tunnel’s reopening.

 

• Mill Valley-Sausalito Multi-Use Pathway Repaving: After repaving the northern stretch of the pathway, the County is evaluating at the condition of the two bridges in the southern half and studying ways to mitigate the impacts of sea level rise on the marsh and pathway. Once each of these efforts is completed, we expect to see the southern half repaved.

 

• East Blithedale Avenue / Tiburon Boulevard Connection: MCBC would like to see a low-stress connection established between the Mill Valley-Sausalito multi-use pathway and Tiburon Rail Trail. We will call on the various agencies involved to pursue funds for the study of continuous protected or buffered bike lanes along the corridor.

 

• Alexander Avenue / Golden Gate Bridge Connection: In response to a joint letter delivered by MCBC and the Bay Trail, Caltrans successfully pursued federal funds to construct several needed safety improvements at and near the Alexander Avenue/US-101 interchange area. Though the funds will not be available for a few years, we expect the planning and design of future bicycle improvements to come into focus this year.

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How You Can Help

We are continuing to identify those MCBC members and enthusiastic riders who want to be involved.

Let us know that Safe Access is important to you – we are refining our email alerts for Road and Transportation Projects and would like to include you. Please take a moment to complete your information below, and if there’s a specific section of the county you are most interested in, let us know in the comment section.