Corte Madera Bike Path Reopened!

Adam Soplop of Caltrans reports that the long-closed bike path on the west side of the Greenbrae Interchange was re-opened Friday, October 7, 2005!

As of this writing (October, 2005), there is still some minor work to be done on drainage, so beware of some plywood-covered cut-outs at the edge of the pathway at the southern end, but no further closing of the path should be necessary.

Following is information on the construction project, and the related closure.

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) wants cyclists to know that the bicycle pathway that parallels Highway 101 South from Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Lucky Drive is temporarily closed due to construction of the High Occupancy Vehicle Gap Closure Project (HOV Project).

While there will be a temporary inconvenience during the HOV project construction in this region, the MCBC has worked hard with the County of Marin, Caltrans, local cities and towns, and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission to ensure that there will be improvements to bicycle access along this corridor. The short term inconvenience will be offset by long term benefits from the HOV Gap Closure Project construction (see details below).

Alternative Routes

While the pathway is closed, bicyclists can take an alternate route on the east side of the freeway. We are working with Caltrans to improve the detour route signs and to have them post copies of the relevant portion of the Marin Bicycle Route Map, with the alternative route highlighted.

Coming from the North and heading South: Bicyclists who are on the north side of the construction and are seeking to travel south should ride to the east side of the freeway by taking the pathway that runs east-west underneath the freeway (towards the Larkspur Ferry Terminal). Once on the east side of the freeway, cyclists may take the sidewalk that is on the northbound off-ramp for Highway 101 to cross over Corte Madera creek. (Please note that there is a sign asking for people to walk their bicycles. A safety barrier has been constructed that reduces the width of the sidewalk, so please be very careful, especially when other users are on the path.) Cyclists may then proceed south on Redwood Highway, and if desired, can cross over to the west side of the freeway again at the "cyclones" (the pedestrian and bicycle overpass near Lucky Drive.) That is the signed detour route. Cyclists may also continue further south on Redwood Highway and return to the west side of Highway 101 on Wornum Boulevard.

Coming from the South and heading North: As noted above, travel must be completed by bicycle on the east side of the highway, on the sidewalk which is parallel to the northbound off-ramp for Highway 101. Bicyclists on the west side of the freeway should cross over to the east side by using the cyclones or Wornum Boulevard. Then, proceed north on Redwood Highway until accessing the northbound Highway off-ramp and the sidewalk pathway which crosses Corte Madera Creek. Once arriving at Sir Francis Drake, bicyclists may head west on the pathway to cross back over the west side of the Highway.

Long Term Benefits for Bicycling Through the Construction

In order to get approval to temporarily close this pathway for the HOV Gap Closure construction, the County of Marin and Caltrans needed to get a permit from the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). Before the County approached BCDC for a permit, the MCBC met with County and Caltrans staff to discuss long term benefits which could be afforded to bicyclists as part of the HOV Gap Closure project. As a result, the permit that BCDC issued sets up the following conditions for improved bicycle access that will be constructed during the HOV gap closure process:

• On the west side of Highway 101, construct a new connection from the existing trail to Lucky Drive (County of Marin)
• On the west side of Highway 101, widen the existsing 600' long trail from 5' to 8' (in the County of Marin and Corte Madera's jurisdiction)
• On the west side of Highway 101, pave the end of the trail at the western end of the southbound on-ramp (in the City of Larkspur, to access Sir Francis Drake)
• On the east side of Highway 101, flatten an existing 90-degree curve to 70-degrees, and widen 200' of trail to 8' (in the City of Larkspur)
• On the east side of Highway 101, construct a fence or cable railing to separate bicyclists/pedestrians from vehicular traffic on the northbound off-ramp (in the City of Larkspur)

These bicycling benefits will cost an estimated $160,000 and will be paid for out of the Highway 101 funding.

In addition, as part of the BCDC permit, the County of Marin was required to set aside an additional $400,000 towards implementation of the preferred alternative for the Central Marin Ferry Connection Project (CMFCP). The CMFCP is part of the North-South Greenway. The preferred alternative that was selected by a Technical Advisory Committee will be a new high-level bridge separated from automobile traffic that is planned to be located along the railroad right-of-way. The cost for this project is estimated at approximately $9 million. Some funding for the CMFCP is also slated from Regional Measure 2, which was approved by voters in March of 2004.