San Rafael’s moving ahead with a draft five- to ten-year bicycle and pedestrian plan. The plan lays out 20 priority projects aimed at making walking and biking safer all over the city.
It updates the 2018 blueprint and folds in recent safety efforts, like the local roads safety plan and the Canal neighborhood transportation plan. With a focus on Vision Zero and equitable access, the document scores projects based on connectivity, comfort, implementation, and safety history.
Discover hand-picked hotels and vacation homes tailored for every traveler. Skip booking fees and secure your dream stay today with real-time availability!
Browse Accommodations Now
Staff also weigh things like crash history, population served, and feasibility. It’s an ambitious roadmap that Marin County residents—from Terra Linda to downtown San Rafael—can watch take shape in the years ahead.
What the plan aims to accomplish across San Rafael
The draft takes a network-first approach, keeping people on foot or bike by prioritizing routes that connect neighborhoods to schools, parks, shops, and transit. It also calls for separating riders from vehicles where possible and adding buffers, medians, or barriers to cushion paths from traffic.
In Marin County terms, it feels like a commitment to tie together Terra Linda, the Canal neighborhood, and the Civic Center with safer, more comfortable routes for folks who prefer not to drive. City staff say the updates reflect current needs and align with regional safety goals.
Marin audiences familiar with Larkspur, Mill Valley, and Sausalito will recognize a broader push to pair bike lanes with pedestrian improvements and better crosswalks across busy corridors such as Manuel T. Freitas Parkway. Terra Linda residents now navigate painted Class II bike lanes that lack separation, so this is a big deal.
The framework also looks ahead to growth in neighboring communities like San Anselmo and Fairfax. That helps reinforce a countywide effort to move people more safely and efficiently.
Key goals and scoring criteria
The draft scores projects using four main goals: connectivity, comfort, implementation, and Vision Zero. To set priorities, staff also consider crash history, population served, equity, separation from vehicles, cost, feasibility, and readiness.
This method aims to make sure investments create convenient routes and cut down on traffic-related injuries and fatalities in San Rafael and nearby Marin towns.
Major projects highlighted in the draft
The full list includes 20 priority projects, but a few stand out as potential game-changers for regional mobility. Here are the big ones from the draft plan:
- Terra Linda Class I multiuse path — A $9 million project on the north side of Manuel T. Freitas Parkway between Del Ganado Road and Los Gamos Drive, turning painted Class II bike lanes into a separated path for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Rail-adjacent multiuse path near Highway 101 — A $3.5 million, 10-foot-wide path running alongside the SMART train tracks from Merrydale Road to Civic Center Drive, designed to run beneath the corridor and boost rider safety near Marin County’s rail hub.
- Bridge across San Rafael Creek — This bridge would connect the Canal neighborhood to Montecito Plaza and link key neighborhoods, making commutes healthier and more circular.
- Bellam Boulevard improvements — Projects in the Canal area to extend safe routes and improve walking conditions close to the downtown core.
- Albert Park path connection — This would link park users to a larger safe-network, with the potential to encourage more activity around Marin County green spaces.
- Downtown east-west connection — A crucial corridor in central San Rafael to unify cross-town routes and support access to commercial districts.
The plan highlights the Canal neighborhood, Albert Park area, and the East-West downtown corridor as central pieces of a network that residents—from Mill Valley to San Rafael—can use for work, school, and recreation.
Community input and concerns
Advisory committee members mostly support moving from a plan to a real network. They did notice some gaps and missing details that could make evaluation harder.
Some urged staff to revisit the ranking of certain projects and address public comments before wrapping things up. Walk/Bike San Rafael co-chair Dave Rhoads praised the push for a comprehensive network, but warned that drafting errors might complicate future scoring and funding. He stressed the city needs to turn the plan into real projects—not just words on paper.
Notable viewpoints
Next steps and how residents can participate
Staff plans to return with the full text of the plan for City Council consideration this summer. You can still find plenty of information online for Marin County neighbors across San Rafael, San Anselmo, and beyond.
As this 20-project roster inches toward adoption, residents from Corte Madera to Novato should watch for public meetings and comment opportunities. There will be live updates on progress too.
In Marin County, the path to safer streets feels like a shared journey. It’s starting to connect Terra Linda, downtown San Rafael, the Canal, and hopefully a safer, greener future for everyone.
Here is the source article for this story: San Rafael rolls out draft bicycle-pedestrian project list
Find available hotels and vacation homes instantly. No fees, best rates guaranteed!
Check Availability Now
Cities and Towns in Marin County
Things to Do in Marin County
Places to Stay in Marin County
