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Home My WebLink AboutPW Highway 101 to Interstate 580 Connector Project PPT 2Guiding Principles US 101 NB/ I-580 EB Connector Project Presentation to City Council July 6, 2021 Context •Guiding Principles provide an opportunity to articulate San Rafael’s aspirations, concerns, and needs related to the project •TAM may consider the City’s input as alternatives are developed and evaluated •Principles are based on interviews with Council members and other community stakeholders Eight Principles 1.Provide a net benefit to the adjacent San Rafael neighborhoods. 2.Reduce delays and increase choices for all travelers. 3.Improve local traffic flow to allow for future economic investment and development in Southeast San Rafael. 4.Improve the safety of all travelers in the project area. 5.Create a project that “fits in” with its setting and is aesthetically pleasing. 6.Minimize impacts on open space and natural resources. 7.Design for the future—not the past. 8.Build the project in an efficient, timely way. Net Benefit The Connector project should be a net benefit to adjacent San Rafael neighborhoods. •Include benefits for San Rafael residents and businesses in alternatives that directly impact San Rafael. •Maintain direct on-and off-ramp access from the freeways to Bellam. •Ensure the project does not further divide the area from the rest of the city. •Analyze improvements to operations on local streets in Larkspur as well as San Rafael, with the aim of reducing overall congestion. •Consider data-driven analysis to provide quality information on positive and negative impacts. PRINCIPLE1 Mobility Reduce travel delays and increase choices for travelers. •Reduce travel delays for motorists transitioning from NB 101 to EB 580 and the Richmond Bridge. •Reduce surface street congestion around 101/580 through signal changes and design changes, making it quicker and easier to get to Southeast San Rafael. •Improve bicycle/ pedestrian connections along Bellam between Kerner and Andersen, including new sidewalks and crosswalks, and dedicated (or buffered) bike lanes. •Provide a safe pedestrian and bicycle connection from the Canal neighborhood to the SMART/Cal Park Hill path, making it easier to get Downtown. PRINCIPLE2 Economic Investment Improve local traffic flow to allow for future economic investment and development in SE San Rafael. •Consider business access and visibility for customers, employees, and suppliers. •Minimize direct displacement of businesses, and indirect displacement due to changes in access. •Minimize project construction impacts to area businesses. •Reduce delays and commute times for those who use local surface streets to travel to and from work. PRINCIPLE3 Safety Improve the safety of all travelers in the project area. •Reduce collision hazards for all modes of travel, including bicycles, pedestrians, and transit users on surface streets as well as motorists on the freeways. •Maintain, or improve if possible, emergency vehicle access to Southeast San Rafael by improving traffic flow. PRINCIPLE4 Aesthetics Create a project that “fits in” with its setting and is aesthetically pleasing. •Incorporate infrastructure that blends with local context. Reduce the feeling of height and bulk of any new infrastructure. •Leverage the project to create gateway improvements on local streets where highway traffic enters San Rafael, especially along Bellam between Andersen Drive and East Francisco Boulevard. •Consider positive and negative social equity impacts in project design (ped/bike improvements, height/bulk of viaducts, etc.) •Avoid grading scars and large-scale tree removal. PRINCIPLE5 Environment Minimize impacts on open space and natural resources. •Explore opportunities to improve recreational access to open space where possible given agreements between the City and property owners. •Consider project impacts on natural resources. •Minimize impacts on areas near the interchange, especially on residential areas, in terms of air quality, noise, garbage, and other negative impacts. PRINCIPLE6 Future Focus Design for the future—not the past. •Consider long-term impacts of COVID-19 on travel demand, commute patterns, projected volumes, trip origins and destinations, and transit use. •Consider possible future changes in vehicle mix and technology. •Maintain flexibility to provide a future direct ramp from W/B I-580 to S/B US-101. •Consider sea level rise adaptation planning in the design of the new connection. •Select alternatives that do not preclude future circulation improvements to improve ingress or egress to/from the neighborhoods. PRINCIPLE7 Efficiency Minimize impacts on open space and natural resources. •Provide an inclusive planning process that engages local businesses and residents including non-English speaking residents. •Balance the costs of each alternative against its improvements to travel time and volumes. •Minimize the need to acquire additional right-of-way. •Consider factors other than speed when evaluating project benefits. •Encourage Caltrans to allow design exceptions if the result is a more efficient, superior, and cost-effective project. •Coordinate with other efforts to improve the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and enhance conditions on the 580 and 101 Corridors. PRINCIPLE8 Guiding Principles US 101 NB/ I-580 EB Connector Project Thank You!