This Marin County blog covers a recent Novato traffic checkpoint that led to a couple of DUI arrests. It also highlights Caltrans road work near Freitas Parkway and Highway 101, plus the latest on Marin County’s job market and new seasonal parking rules along Shoreline Highway.
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Traffic safety and enforcement in Novato and the North Bay
At the South Novato Boulevard and Redwood Boulevard checkpoint, Novato police talked with 656 drivers. Officers pulled 43 of them aside for a closer look.
They arrested two people for driving under the influence and handed out citations for license issues and other violations. State and federal grants backed this operation, which shows Marin County’s ongoing push to keep local roads safer—especially in places like Novato, San Rafael, and Corte Madera.
Officers from Novato and nearby agencies say these checks are just one part of a bigger plan to stop impaired driving during the busy spring travel season in the North Bay. Folks from Mill Valley to Sausalito and Tiburon should expect these safety efforts to pop up along Highway 101 and other main roads.
- 656 drivers contacted at the checkpoint
- 43 drivers pulled aside for further investigation
- Two intoxicated drivers arrested
- Citations issued for license offenses and other violations
Upcoming and ongoing infrastructure work along Highway 101 and Freitas Parkway
Caltrans has delayed the northbound Highway 101 offramp closure to Manuel T. Freitas Parkway. The new schedule is nightly from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on May 13–16.
These closures will let crews finish drainage improvements for the $11.5 million roundabout project at Freitas Parkway, Civic Center Drive, and Redwood Highway. That intersection, which already closed back in February, will stay closed through June.
If you commute through Larkspur, Corte Madera, or San Rafael, it’s probably smart to expect detours and shifting traffic patterns as the project heads toward fall completion.
- NB 101 offramp closure dates: May 13–16, 11 p.m.–5 a.m.
- Location: Offramp to Manuel T. Freitas Parkway
- Project cost: $11.5 million for the Freitas Parkway roundabout
- Expected completion: This fall
Marin County’s labor market shines in March
There’s a bit of good news for the local economy: Marin County’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in March, down from a revised 4.1% in February, according to the California Employment Development Department. Statewide, California’s unemployment ticked down to 5.3% in March from 5.4% in February, and the state added 28,700 jobs after some losses in February.
Many Marin residents in San Rafael, Fairfax, and Mill Valley are watching these trends closely as small businesses and services try to bounce back.
- Marin County unemployment: 3.8% in March (down from 4.1% in February)
- North Bay counties: Sonoma 4.2%, Napa 4.3%, Solano 5.1%
- Job gains: Marin +400, Sonoma +700, Solano +700, Napa +200
Santa Rosa and the broader North Bay are slowly adding jobs. Marin County’s numbers point to a pretty resilient regional economy, especially in towns from Novato to Sausalito and from San Rafael to Corte Madera.
Local employers in hospitality, retail, and professional services—especially in Larkspur and Ross—are noticing the difference. Residents are still keeping an eye on housing and transportation, since they connect Marin’s hillside neighborhoods with the Bay.
Seasonal, tide-driven parking restrictions on Shoreline Highway
Caltrans just announced a seasonal constraint for the Manzanita commuter lot. The lower section of the lot will close during high-tide flooding from May 14–21.
Parking won’t be allowed on the shoulder along Shoreline Highway in that affected stretch. Caltrans says this step helps them manage flood risk along the Marin coastline, especially near Mill Valley, Sausalito, and the San Rafael waterfront.
If you’re a Bay Area commuter relying on Marin’s coastal routes, these tide and drainage moves matter. The Freitas Parkway roundabout upgrade is also in the works, aiming for safer travel and, hopefully, smarter infrastructure overall.
People traveling from Fairfax to Tiburon should keep an eye out for updates as the fall completion date gets closer. Seasonal parking rules might change with the tides—so, yeah, it’s worth paying attention.
Here is the source article for this story: In Your Town for May 5, 2026
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