MCBC - Marin scores another $6 million for bike paths

Marin scores another $6 million for bike paths

Mark Prado
Marin IJ, April 6, 2010

Victor Garcia applies sealant on the concrete floor during the construction on the bike lane in the Cal Park HIll tunnel in San Rafael on Tuesday. The county got $6 million to help fund bike lane projects. (IJ photo/Jeff Vendsel)

(IJ photo/Jeff Vendsel)

Marin has landed additional bike bucks, more than $6 million worth.

The extra money designated for Marin County bicycle and pedestrian programs was included as part of a $15 billion bill signed by President Obama last month that extended federal highway and transit programs through Dec. 31.

That is on top of $25 million in federal dollars the county received in 2005 as part of the "Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program" to evaluate whether construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, along with educational and outreach programs, can encourage bicycling and walking as a way to cut car trips.

That money is being used for several projects around the county, including the addition of bike lanes and a pedestrian path inside the Cal Park Hill Tunnel that will connect San Rafael with Larkspur. Bike lanes on Los Ranchitos Road in San Rafael have also been finished with the money and bike lanes along Alameda del Prado in Novato are under way, and other projects are set to begin soon.

"It will be up to the Board of Supervisors to determine how this new $6 million will be used," said Craig Tackabery, assistant director for the county public works department. "That will come over the next few months."

County officials spoke with representatives in the offices of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, who backed the additional funding in the bill, Tackabery said.

A recently completed county survey sought to find out how many people are walking and biking in Marin and if the program made a difference. The results show weekday bicycling use increased an average of 6 percent between 2008 and 2009 and 118 percent since 1999. During weekends, bicycling increased an average of 10 percent since 2008 and 125 percent between 1999 and 2009. Weekday walking rates increased 26 percent between 2008 and 2009 and 51 percent between 1999 and 2009.

"We've seen dramatic increases over the past few years of people walking and bicycling," said Supervisor Judy Arnold, president of Marin's Board of Supervisors. "It's great that our efforts are recognized and this additional funding will further our goal of a complete bicycle and pedestrian network in Marin County."