NORTH-SOUTH GREENWAY UPDATE

By Deb Hubsmith, Kim Baenisch and Nancy Weninger, Summer 2004

Read about the Alto Tunnel
Read about the Cal Park Tunnel
Read about Rails with Trails
Read the 2003 progress report

Since 1974, the County of Marin has had plans for building a continuous north-south pathway along the former Northwestern Pacific (NWP) railroad right-of-way, which runs parallel to Highway 101. The Marin County Bicycle Coalition has been working with government agencies since 1998 to make this goal a reality.

Construction of this pathway-the North-South Greenway-is creating a "linear park" as well as a non-motorized transportation corridor. Separated from automobiles, the Greenway will provide a flat route and connections to ferry terminals, bus stops, workplaces, retail businesses, schools, and residences.

Because funding is limited and different jurisdictions are responsible for implementing various sections of the pathway, the MCBC has been working on many project sites simultaneously. We have also been working with local governmental agencies to link the funding, planning and implementation of non-motorized transportation projects to other high-priority transportation projects along the same corridor.

Following is a 2004 summary of plans and progress for the entire North-South Greenway corridor. The MCBC has been actively involved in shaping transportation design plans and working as a partner with local government to secure funding for all of the projects described below.

1 - Fort Baker, Vista Point and the Golden Gate Bridge

Last fall, Caltrans completed Vista Point with bicycle racks, warning signs, speed tables, and safer pathways for cyclists and pedestrians. In December 2003, the Golden Gate Bridge District and bicycle advocates celebrated the completion of the bridge safety railing. Currently, MCBC is working with the National Park Service to ask for their consideration of a plan for a separated pathway parallel to Alexander Avenue, as part of the Fort Baker project.

2 - Sausalito Bicycle Lanes and Pathway Construction

In September of 2003, MCBC and the City of Sausalito celebrated the new bicycle lanes on Bridgeway with a ribbon-cutting event. MCBC is also working with the City of Sausalito and BCDC to plan for a separated pathway along the railroad right-of-way to connect with the Sausalito Ferry Terminal.

3 - Mill Valley Pathway Resurfacing

The Mill Valley-Sausalito pathway was built in the early 1980s and is one of the most popular pathways in the United States. The County of Marin has programmed $150,000 in the State Transportation Improvement Fund to resurface this pathway during the 2005-2006 fiscal year.

4 - Alto Tunnel Rehabilitation

The Mill Valley pathway now dead-ends near the collapsed south portal of the Alto Tunnel, a former train tunnel which is about 2100 feet long. The County of Marin has a grant pending with the State to complete a study on the project which would include the condition of the tunnel, a cost estimate, and community participation. The City of Mill Valley and the Town of Corte Madera passed resolutions of support in favor of this study.

5 - Sandra Marker Trail

In 2003, the City of Larkspur and the MCBC celebrated the paving of the Sandra Marker Trail, which runs from Baltimore Park in Larkspur to the High Canal Bridge in Corte Madera. This pathway is now used by many school children and bicycle commuters. It has a stunning view of Mount Tamalpais!

6 - High Canal Bridge

The Town of Corte Madera constructed the High Canal Bridge in 2001. In the Spring of 2004, the section of pathway east of the High Canal Bridge was paved, providing a smooth ride all the way to Tamalpais Drive.

7 - Central Marin Ferry Connection Project

The Central Marin Ferry Connection Project (CMFCP) will provide a needed crossing of Corte Madera Creek and East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. After long and careful evaluation of alternatives, the project's Technical Advisory Committee selected a preferred alternative route, which has been designed to the 30% level. This north-south transportation route begins at the intersection of Redwood Highway and Wornum Drive. Proceeding north, the path will follow the old Northwestern Pacific Railroad right-of-way behind the Cost Plus shopping center. The existing, wooden railroad trestle and drawbridge across Corte Madera Creek will be replaced by a new, fixed bridge. After crossing the creek, a spur from the main path will ramp down to connect to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, while the high-level bridge will continue across East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard towards the Cal Park Hill Tunnel.

The City of Larkspur has done an excellent job as lead agency for the project handling development through alternatives analysis and preliminary design. Because this is a large regional project, Larkspur will be requesting assistance from the Transportation Authority of Marin (formerly the Congestion Management Agency) to identify a new lead agency that will move the project forward through environmental review, full engineering and construction.

The San Francisco Bay Trail Project and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) provided funding for the initial phases of this project. The CMFCP is one of four component projects in the Greenbrae Intermodal Project, which will be funded by the MTC through the additional toll revenues generated by Regional Measure 2. Construction of the CMFCP (and the Cal Park Tunnel) will close a major gap in the North/South Greenway, improving bicyclists' ability to travel safely through this area.

8 - Cal Park Hill Tunnel Rehabilitation

Community leaders have been working for thirty years to provide a non-motorized connection between Larkspur and San Rafael in the vicinity of Cal Park Hill. On more than one occasion, funding for providing the route has been promised and withdrawn. As traffic congestion on Highway 101 and local roads has increased, it has become even more important to provide a safe, direct connection for bicyclists and pedestrians between the San Rafael Transit Center and the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, including connections between housing, transit and commercial centers. The MTC's Transportation for Livable Communities program recognized the value of making this connection recently, when it approved $1.5 million in funding to supplement the $3.9 million already granted by the California Bicycle Transportation Account and Transportation Enhancements Fund.

The biggest part of this project is the rehabilitation of the Cal Park Hill Tunnel, which partially collapsed in the 1980s. The County of Marin contracted with engineering firms to assess the tunnel condition, identify alternative construction techniques, select a preferred alternative, design to the 30% level and provide cost estimates. This preliminary work is expected to be completed by the County Department of Public Works in the summer of 2004. As with the CMFCP, funding for tunnel reconstruction and the bike paths on both ends of the tunnel will be provided by the MTC through the Regional Measure 2 Bay Area bridge toll increase. The Cal Park Hill Tunnel is now fully funded and the proposed project schedule shows that we could see light at the end of this tunnel in 2007!

9 - SMART Rail with Trail from San Rafael through Sonoma County

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) has been working since 1999 to develop a 68-mile train route along the former Northwestern Pacific Railroad right-of-way (ROW) from Cloverdale to San Rafael. SMART included the development of a parallel multiuse path within the ROW as an early goal for the project, and throughout 2003, MCBC participated on the SMART Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Group (BPAG) to plan this parallel pathway. The BPAG also submitted rail station design recommendations to the SMART Board to ensure that bicyclists' needs will be met in the station planning.

A particularly significant accomplishment in this planning process was the SMART Board's approval in February 2004 of the rail-with-trail Implementation Strategy document. Close cooperation between SMART and local agencies will be required to ensure that the pathway is constructed in a rational manner over time. This document separates the pathway project into buildable sections within each town, and identifies the short and long-term actions needed by the shareholders to complete them.

The project's 12-18 month EIR/EIS review process is currently underway, with a draft report due this summer. A 30% design phase for the entire proposed pathway is occurring simultaneously. A critical pathway segment still being reviewed is in San Rafael between the Transit Center and Porto Suello Hill. The SMART Board is still discussing when it might put a ballot measure to voters for funding of the project.

Conclusion

As you can see, over the past six years, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and its partners in local government have made tremendous progress towards building the North-South Greenway. When it is completed, this corridor will provide a healthful, environmentally sound transportation alternative that will serve as a model for the nation. The Greenway's twelve-mile, continuous pathway between Sausalito and San Rafael will offer a safe, virtually flat route that has only six crossings with motor vehicle traffic. The North-South Greenway will allow people to enjoy nature, avoid creating pollution, and get exercise while commuting on foot, by wheelchair, or by bicycle. In addition to relieving traffic congestion, the North-South Greenway will improve the quality of life in Marin County.