Work begins on bike lanes on San Rafael's Puerto Suello Hill

Jennifer Upshaw
Marin IJ, June 9, 2009

John Raymond directs traffic as Mike Alten paints a directional arrow on Los Ranchitos Road at Fair Drive in San Rafael. The road was closed at Fair Drive northbound because work is under way on the Los Ranchitos Road Bikeway Project. (IJ photo/Frankie Frost)

Work is under way to add dedicated bicycle lanes on Puerto Suello Hill as part of a regional effort to connect northern and southern Marin.

By the end of August, new class II bike lanes will be in place on Los Ranchitos Road from the summit near the Merrydale path to near North San Pedro Road.

"This is a dream come true," Marin Supervisor Susan Adams. "This was a project my first year in office we were working on to provide safe pedestrian and bike access between a very challenging connection between north San Rafael and central San Rafael.

"We're finally going to be able to do the project. It's very exciting."

The $880,000 work by San Rafael-based Ghilotti Bros., Inc. is part of the $25 million countywide effort to encourage alternative transportation.

Known as the federal Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, the grant, one of four in the nation, aims to get more people out of their cars by giving them better access to sidewalks, bike paths and transportation hubs throughout Marin.

Planners, who originally intended to spend $1.16 million on the Los Ranchitos connector, said project came in under budget. Construction must be completed by the end of the year to comply with the grant requirements.

The connector is considered a key link between northern and southern Marin and to critical spots in northern and central San Rafael. The access links Terra Linda, Santa Venetia, the Marin Civic Center and China Camp State Park, officials said.

Work is under way on the Los Ranchitos Road Bikeway Project in San Rafael on Tuesday. Southbound traffic flows around an excavator on the road that was closed northbound. (IJ photo/Frankie Frost)

Right now, cyclists have to ride in the road south of North San Pedro. Thanks to the steep grade, the cyclists are slower on the upgrade, which can cause delays for motorist and make conditions unsafe, officials said.

"The problem with sharing, typically it becomes more of a problem when they (cars and cyclists) operate at different speeds (on) a hill," said Craig Tackabery, county assistant public works director. "That's an ideal area you want to separate if possible."

Kim Baenisch, executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, the group that lobbied in Washington for the federal dollars, said people behave better when bike lanes are in place.

"Getting these kinds of bike lanes installed is fantastic because it helps give more room for all the users," she said.

"This north-south route is finally getting the help that it needs."