Photo credit to Transporation Authority of Marin
San Rafael, CA– On Friday, January 11th, the City of San Rafael celebrated the completion of the extensive 20-month Third Street Improvement Project. This project upgraded safety, infrastructure, and traffic needs of one of its most vital city thoroughfares. It dramatically improved bike lanes and walking paths along with creating safer parking locations for local residents. Third Street is a critical component of San Rafael’s transportation network that continues to serve tens of thousands of residents on a daily basis as they travel to work, school, recreation, and retail destinations.
“The project has been a thoughtful and dynamic collaboration between numerous stakeholders, including utility companies, the city, and numerous private projects,” said Vice Mayor Eli Hill. “We would like to thank our residents and business that endured this work and now have a walking, biking and driving corridor that is safe and has dramatically improved the corridor for us all”.
This complex project began construction in March 2022 and required the city to collaborate with different contractors on separate projects within the same work area while maintaining access to the community. Improvements were implemented on Third Street from Grand Avenue to Second Street. San Rafael partnered with the San Rafael Sanitation District (SRSD) and Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) to address ancillary water and sewer replacement. Funding for the $20.8 million project includes $12.95 million from TAM’s Measures A and AA funds. Third Street also received federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant of $1.6 million.
“I’d like to congratulate the City of San Rafael for completing this excellent roadway improvement project to one of the busiest east west corridors in Marin,“ said Brian Colbert, Chairperson of the TAM Board of Commissioners, council member for the Town of San Anselmo “This corridor is a critical link not only to my home town of San Anselmo, but to all the neighborhoods and destinations to the west… Fairfax, the San Geronimo Valley, Stinson, Bolinas, Point Reyes and beyond. The connection between 101 and these areas all starts here!”
The culmination of this work will reduce traffic congestion throughout the downtown corridor, improve safety for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. It rehabilitated pavement, fixed uneven sidewalks, and upgraded curb ramps for accessibility and upgraded the traffic signal infrastructure. It also replaced major water lines for both Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) and the and San Rafael Sanitation District (SRSD)’s aging infrastructure.
If you have any questions, please contact San Rafael Public Works Department at: 415-485-3355 or public.works@cityofsanrafael.org