Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Public Access Progress
By Deb Hubsmith, MCBC Advocacy Director
Since the MCBC’s inception in 1998, we have joined with
advocates from the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and the San
Francisco Bay Trail Project to seek public access on the
4.5-mile Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (RSR), which spans
the bay between Marin and Contra Costa Counties. The
prospect of actually achieving public access on the bridge is
closer now than it’s been in decades.
Following two positive studies on public access in 1998 and 2001, a $420,000 Project Initiation Document was launched in January 2004 with MCBC serving on the project’s Technical Advisory Committee.
The first task was to determine current and projected automobile volumes on the bridge. The study showed that Caltrans “needs” three lanes for automobile travel during the “peak” traffic congestion time periods (westbound in the morning, and eastbound in late afternoon). In response to this “need” Caltrans would begin a study to open three lanes to automobile travel during the peak congestion time periods.
At a recent Technical Advisory Committee meeting, Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) staff noted that a “change in use” permit would be required for Caltrans to open the bridge to three lanes of automobile travel. This is an important determination, as one of BCDC’s missions is to promote “maximum feasible public access” on the bridge. Through this permit requirement, BCDC could require Caltrans to simultaneously implement public access at the time when the bridge might be reconfigured for increased auto travel.
It is anticipated that presentations about the public-access and automobile studies could come before BCDC, Bay Area Toll Authority and/or Metropolitan Transportation Commission this spring (2007), with the potential for environmental review of project alternatives this summer. The public access alternatives range in cost from $39 million to $400 million and include options such as a moveable barrier, a fixed barrier, and a separated bi-directional pathway.
Advocacy for public access on the Richmond Bridge is about to heat up, so if you’d like to get involved, contact Deb Hubsmith at 415-454-7430 or deb@marinbike.org.
For more information about the history of advocating for bicycle access on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge use the following links:
Working for Bike Access On the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (Summer 2004)
Study Begins for Bike/Ped Access (January 2004)
Seeking Bicycle Access on the Richmond San Rafael Bridge (October 2002)
Other links about the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge:
Read about the History of working for bicycle access on the RSR Bridge.
Read the MCBC's September 2002 letter to BCDC
Read the MCBC's September 2002 press release
Read the Contra Costa Times article on the September 2002 BCDC meeting
Read the Contra Costa Times October 2 2002 article on the BCDC bike lane approval
Read the MCBC's October 4 2002 letter to BCDC
