News S. Eliseo Improvements to Come in Two Phases, Starting in 2020
South Eliseo Drive in Larkspur may be just three-quarters of a mile long, but it’s an important connection between both sides of the Corte Madera Creek Pathway and is part of the primary east-west bike route between Ross Valley and Larkspur Ferry Terminal. With your support, we’ll improve S. Eliseo so that it provides the same pleasant, safe, stress-free experience as the pathways it connects.
The City of Larkspur is planning improvements for S. Eliseo Street in an attempt to slow traffic and create a safer environment for people walking and bicycling. At their November 12 Open House, they shared plans for two phases of improvements:
-
Near-term traffic calming and pedestrian improvements (Summer 2020)
-
Permanent reconfiguration, possibly including bike lanes, protected bike lanes, or a pathway (Summer 2022)
near-term improvements
In the first phase, the City will use available funding to add several new curb ramps and crosswalks, and remove parking near intersections and crosswalks to improve sightlines. The crosswalks would include concrete islands that provide refuge for pedestrians and slow drivers.
The configuration for people bicycling, however, would remain unchanged, with the continued use of shared (Class III) lanes. MCBC is pushing for even more robust traffic calming measures that would bring the road’s speed limit down to 20 MPH, which is the best practice for shared streets.
long-term improvements
Looking out to 2022, when the City plans to repave the entire street, there are opportunities for a major redesign that could include bike lanes, protected bike lanes, or a multi-use pathway. MCBC will push for the safest possible design for people of all ages and abilities, which would require physical separation and protection from automobile traffic.
City staff indicated that outreach about that configuration would likely begin sometime in 2021. We will continue to monitor this project closely and provide updates and designs as they become available. If you’d like to get involved or stay informed, please sign-up for our S. Eliseo list using the form below.
