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Overview
The City of San Rafael is actively engaged in several construction related projects in the Canal neighborhood. From street pavement improvements, to public lighting, to pump station repair and replacement, there is no shortage of projects that the City has recently completed or is in active construction in the Canal neighborhood. This site is intended to serve as a central access point for community members, stakeholders, City staff and any others to find the most up to date information on projects specifically located and which serve the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael.
Projects
Canal Community Based Transportation Plan
Department of Public Works Traffic Division staff worked closely with Canal community stakeholders to create the 'Canal Community Based Transportation Plan' in 2022. The plan allows community members, stakeholders and City leaders to understand challenges, hear community input, draft a long-term plan and identify funding for future transportation projects in the Canal neighborhood.
San Rafael's storied Canal neighborhood includes some of the most densely populated Marin County residential areas frequented by walkers, bikers, commuters, and residents alike. However, some residential neighborhoods lack adequate lighting, which can lead to reduced pedestrian safety, walkability, and increased opportunities for illegal dumping at night. In response to community feedback, advocacy groups and organizations led by Voces del Canal (project team) identified areas that needed more public lighting. The project team has worked with City staff to improve lighting infrastructure in key areas in the Canal.
Pickleweed Park and the Albert J. Boro Community Center serve as a gathering point for San Rafael’s communities where partnerships and collaborations engage public, private and civil sectors in delivering services that better the neighborhood, the City of San Rafael and the County of Marin. Typically, the heavily used sports fields are closed for six months of the year to repair and rejuvenate the natural turf. The community highlighted converting the field to synthetic turf for year-round access as a top priority. From this feedback, the City developed a conceptual plan, which was used in 2020 and 2022 to apply for funding from Proposition 68 and the Land and Later Conservation Fund. The City is happy to announce that, as of July 2022, California State Parks has recommended the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project to the National Park Service for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant.
Construction activities began on this project in October 2024 and are anticipated to be completed by Spring 2025. The main project elements include replacing the existing field to an all-weather multi-sport turf field, extending the community center parking lot, installing an additional playground for children under 5 years old, adding some adult fitness equipment locations, and a gazebo.
We are excited to announce that City of San Rafael has been selected to receive a $1M grant from the California State Library’s Building Forward program to redesign and expand the interior space at the Pickleweed Branch library. This grant will allow us to increase public and staff space within the current footprint of the building by creatively redesigning the interior of this much-loved branch library to improve both the patron and staff experience.
The Building Forward program prioritizes projects in high-poverty areas and those that address life-safety and critical maintenance and infrastructure needs. The grant requires a 100% match, which the City will achieve through the gracious memorial funds that have been established for improved Library facilities and services. The City anticipates the design to begin in 2024 and construction in 2025.
Canal St. Powerline Undergrounding
The Department of Public Works had partnered with PG&E to establish an underground utility district (UUD) on Canal Street between Medway Road to Spinnaker Point Drive as part of the “Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding Program.” On June 20, 2023, the City Council adopted a resolution to designate the underground utility district on Canal Street between Medway Road and Spinnaker Point Drive. With the establishment of the UUD, City staff and PG&E representatives are collaborating on the development of the utility undergrounding project, which will free up space on the sidewalk for pedestrian access and beautify the Canal Street corridor by removing overhead lines and poles.
Recently, the City has been working with PG&E to progress the utility undergrounding project to align with the Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancement project. The utility undergrounding project is anticipated to enter PG&E's workplan in 2026. The City will continue to coordinate with PG&E and other utility agencies in an effort to provide a complete end-product for the neighborhood.
Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancement
The City has successfully procured state-only funding through the Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 (ATP 6) grant to make improvements to the bicycle and pedestrian experience in the Canal neighborhood. Improvements include street lighting, curb ramp upgrades, sidewalk gap closures, pedestrians crossing improvements, bus stop improvements, secure bicycle parking, and bicycle boulevard treatments.
The Canal Crossing project aims to provide a non-motorized bicycle and pedestrian crossing bridge between the Canal Neighborhood and destinations north of San Rafael Creek. A new crossing would provide connectivity within a highly developed active transportation network in central Marin County, including the Bay Trail and the NorthSouth Greenway, ensuring that residents of the Canal Neighborhood and the broader community are provided with safe access to regional destinations.
The City received grant funding of $1,575,000 through the ATP 6 grant to fund the feasibility study, preliminary design, and environmental assessment of the crossing bridge. The City plans to advertise a Request for Proposal in Spring/Summer 2025 to bring on a consultant team to assist with the feasibility study and preliminary design.
Spinnaker Point Traffic Calming Pilot
Traffic calming measures, meant to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, were implemented in the Spinnaker/Baypoint Neighborhood in Fall 2024. The pilot project included the installation of a traffic circle at the Spinnaker Point Drive & Catalina Boulevard intersection and curb/median extensions at the Spinnaker Point Drive & Newport Way intersection.
The Pickleweed Childcare Replacement Portables project at Pickleweed Preschool includes replacement of the childcare portable buildings, landscaping, and site improvements to the preschool facility. Preliminary design features new classroom and administration portables, outdoor sandbox, raised planters, and playground equipment. The new portable buildings and preschool site design were developed based on input from Childcare staff on the programming needs of the students and staff. The project is currently in the design phase with construction tentatively scheduled for FY25-26.
Recently Completed Projects:
Stop Sign Installation - Completed Fall 2022
At the west leg of Bellam Blvd. and Catalina Blvd., DPW staff added Stop Signs to slow vehicular traffic and increase pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Spinnaker Point Parking Modification- Phase 1 Completed Spring 2023
The parallel parking on the north side of Spinnaker Point Drive between Bahia Way and the crosswalk west of Portsmouth Cove were converted to angled parking by reconfiguring the roadway, narrowing the median, and realigning the sidewalk. The conversion resulted in about 40 angled parking spaces, two of which are accessible parking spaces. Other improvements include new curb and gutter, widened sidewalk to enhance the pedestrian experience, and streetlights to improve visibility and safety of the area. This project added approximately 14 new parking spaces to help alleviate the community’s need for additional parking.
The City is currently working on Phase 2 of the project which includes installation of a bioretention area to treat storm water and completion of the sidewalk improvements surrounding the utility vaults.
Sidewalk Repair and Pavement Maintenance in Canal District - Completed Fall 2023
The Canal neighborhood's sidewalks are heavily used due to high pedestrian and bicycle activity, in addition to their age and proximity the San Rafael Canal. Public Works staff have identified the popular thoroughfares of Canal St. and Kerner Blvd. for sidewalk maintenance repairs, which was completed in Winter 2023.
In addition to its sidewalks, the Canal neighborhood's streets experience significantly more traffic and fall into disrepair due to the higher concentration of vehicles per residence. In response, Public Works staff have selected several streets in the neighborhood to be improved through the City's pavement management program in FY 2022/23. This project has continued into FY 2023/24 with Larkspur St., Louise St., Verdi St., and Alto St. scheduled for resurfacing in Fall 2023.
New striping improvements in the Canal neighborhood included the installation of T’s and L’s striping to mark the limits of on-street parking spaces, and red and yellow painted curbs to note no parking and loading zones. The project aims to help with the limited parking in the area and improve the traffic safety of the neighborhood.
This week, Bayside Stripe & Seal, Inc. was awarded the Canal Parking Striping Project. Scheduled to commence shortly, the project will involve implementing new striping in the Canal neighborhood, including street parking spaces and red and yellow curb areas. Aimed at alleviating limited parking and enhancing neighborhood traffic safety, this initiative addresses critical concerns within...
For many residents in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood, unreliable or unaffordable internet service is a frustrating reality. It hinders residents’ ability to work, learn, and stay connected. To address this issue, the City of San Rafael is working alongside the County of Marin as part of the Digital Marin initiative to develop strategies and outcomes...
Toward the end of the month, the Parks Division knocked out a comprehensive clean-up around the entire front of the Al Boro Community Center in Pickleweed Park. Here you can see the crew focused on trimming the roses along the front and knocking down the weeds.
Bid advertised: January 25, 2024 Submission deadline: February 20, 2024 The City recently advertised our Canal Striping Project on BidExpress. The project objective is to remove conflicting striping and install new striping, including red curb, yellow curb, and parking Ts and Ls on various streets in the Canal neighborhood. This project is still being advertised...
Design work continues for the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project. City staff have worked alongside various design consultants and interdepartmental teams to carefully plan a project that will genuinely benefit the community while staying within the available grant budget. 90% of the plans are anticipated to be completed this December. If everything continues as scheduled, construction...
Dredging Operations Extended through December 31st, 2023 The City of San Rafael’s dredging operations have been granted an extension through December 31st. If you are interested in applying for a permit for dredging, please use the below link: Dredging Permit - City of San Rafael
The Spinnaker Point parking modification project has been completed and open to the public effective 3/27/23. There are now 43 angled stalls that replace the 28 parallel spots for a net gain of 15 spaces. The new spots will allow residents to park for up to 24 hours before having to move their car....
By: JC Agcaoili, Assistant Engineer The final striping has now been installed at Public Works’ Spinnaker Pt. Parking Modifications project. The parking stalls are now open and available for public use. This project began in October 2022 and is now complete. The Spinnaker Pt. Parking Modifications project has provided an additional 16 parking spaces in...
The Parks & Recreation and Public Works Departments would like to thank Voces del Canal for sharing their space with us at their recent Easter Egg Hunt event last Saturday, April 1st. We were able to gather very helpful feedback regarding the community’s wants and needs for our upcoming Pickleweed Park Improvements project. City staff...
