HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Tamalpais Ave Bike to Work____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: 4/16/2018
Disposition: Accepted Report
Agenda Item No: 6.a
Meeting Date: April 16, 2018
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Public Works
Prepared by: Bill Guerin
Director of Public Works
City Manager Approval: __________
TOPIC: Temporary Tamalpais Avenue One-Way Traffic Conversion in support of Bike to Work
Week
SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE PROPOSED PILOT PROJECT
CONVERTING TAMALPAIS AVENUE WEST TO ONE-WAY TRAFFIC AND ADDING A CLASS IV
CYCLE TRACK FOR BICYCLES
DISCUSSION:
Bike to Work Week encourages commuters and others to get out of their car and use a bicycle to get to
and from their work. Ideally, people will find that biking to work is safe and healthful and more people
will choose the option to bike to work rather than commute by single-occupancy automobiles. Safe
paths for bicyclists are essential to make riding a real possibility for commuters. While there are many
bike paths in parts of San Rafael, providing safe and accessible pedestrian and bicycle access to the
Downtown Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Station and Bettini Transit Center in order to
promote use of the public transportation network has been a long-standing goal for the City of San
Rafael. With the commencement of SMART’s commercial service to Downtown San Rafael as well as
construction of the Larkspur Extension, the City has continued to look for opportunities to improve
pedestrian and bicycle access to and from the area. Staff anticipates an increase in pedestrian and
bicycle usage in this area and wants to use the opportunity of Bike to Work Week to pilot one of the bike
path ideas near the Transit Center.
There have been a number of studies and plans that have recommended improvements to the area in
and around the new SMART Station, including the Downtown San Rafael Station Area Plan (2012), the
Downtown Parking & Wayfinding Study (2018) and the Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan (2011).
Consistent with recommendations to create a complete street solution on Tamalpais Avenue from these
studies, this pilot project will close down a lane of traffic and make Tamalpais West one-way in order to
make room for a two-way protected cycle track. From Mission Avenue to 4th Street, the two-way cycle
track would be on the east side of the street, adjacent to the SMART tracks. Parking on the west side of
the street and the southbound travel lane would remain. From 4th Street to 3rd Street, the two-way cycle
track would be on the west side of the street, and the northbound travel lane and on-street parking
adjacent to Whistlestop would remain.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
Construction of the pilot project bike facility will require 24 parking spaces to be temporarily unavailable
for automobiles. These are a combination of limited term and daily parking meters. Parking will remain
available nearby at the 3rd Street/Lootens Place and A Street parking garages where, according to the
Downtown Parking & Wayfinding Study, there are currently over 120 surplus spaces available.
Traffic in the area is expected to be minimally impacted by the change from two directions to one
direction of travel because Tamalpais Avenue is not a heavily used downtown street. With the
elimination of one direction of travel, there will be a decrease in conflict points, improved circulation,
and increased safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Staff will conduct a one week pilot project from May 7 to 11 to coincide with Bike to Work Week. This
temporary change will include signage, striping, and lane delineators to replicate what a permanent
change may feel like. This will provide a good opportunity for public feedback and for the City to
evaluate the usage and effect on traffic, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and parking. The pilot might be
extended depending on the feedback received from the downtown merchants and users of the new
cycle track. If the results of the pilot indicate that this change is desirable, staff may recommend to
Council that a permanent conversion be approved at a later date.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Public input has been received on all of the recent studies of the Station area
and a bike path on Tamalpais has long been a preference of the bicycling community. The Chamber of
Commerce was contacted and agreed to the pilot project. Adjacent property owners will be notified
prior to the conversion and users will be given advanced notice of the changes for Bike to Work Week.
FISCAL IMPACT: The one week pilot project will have a minimal cost to the City because most of the
signage and delineators are already owned by the City and will be reused for this project. The majority
of the cost will be associated with DPW staff time needed to make the conversion. The City will also
incur a loss in revenue due to the temporary elimination of metered parking of approximately $1,350 for
the week long pilot.
ACTION REQUIRED: Accept the Informational Presentation.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Graphic depicting the pilot project.
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