Second and Fourth Street Intersection Improvements

The Second St and Fourth St intersection is the westerly gateway for the City of San Rafael serving pedestrians, bicyclists, transit, and motorists. However, this critical connection to San Rafael requires a substantial improvement to handle the multi-modal traffic using it each day.  This project will provide safety and access improvements, upgrade the intersection to meet current standards, and address the inefficiencies of the non-conventional intersection.

Project improvements include but are not limited to reconfiguring the intersection, simplifying and straightening the pedestrian crossings, continuing the bikeway connection from the Third Street Corridor Rehabilitation project, and undergrounding overhead utility lines.

The current intersection design (as shown on the project website) was developed through the thoughtful and dynamic collaboration between numerous stakeholders, including the City of San Rafael (community members, adjacent property owners, City staff), utility companies, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and transit agencies. The project team has prepared 65% construction documents and continues to collaborate with project stakeholders while navigating through the Caltrans’ Local Assistance Program process to ensure compliance with the OBAG 3 grant funding requirements.

The project team will be working towards 95% construction documents and anticipates design completion and bidding the project later in 2025.

Project construction is anticipated to begin in 2026.

To minimize impacts to the community, City staff will coordinate with the project contractor to ensure that bicyclist and pedestrian access and traffic flow are considered during the development of the project construction schedule and traffic control plan.

Advanced noticing and robust communication will occur prior to the implementation of the traffic control plan, and a project contact will be designated and made available to assist with any inquiries on the project.

Yes, West End Ave will remain a two-way street.

In the current proposed design (as shown on the project website), vehicles from Marquard Ave can enter West End Ave (westbound) and vehicles from West End Ave (eastbound) can make a right turn onto Marquard Ave or access Second St via a through movement at the intersection with Marquard Ave. Vehicles on West End Ave can also access Second St through the signalized intersection at Greenfield Ave and Fourth St.

Traffic signal timing adjustments have been made and will continue to be monitored to improve access from Greenfield Ave to Fourth St (especially for the eastbound direction).

As part of the preparation of the Local Roadway Safety Plan with the County of Marin, data was collected for the intersection. Between 2018 – 2023 the intersection has seen 15 total reported collisions; seven (7) of which resulted in injury. No reported collisions involved pedestrians.

Two (2) bicycle collisions were reported:

• One (1) bicycle collision at 4th and 2nd resulted in a severe injury due to a traffic signal violation; and
• One (1) involved a bicycle hitting a fixed object along West End Ave near Marquard Ave.

2024 Quarterly Average Daily Pedestrian and Counts as collected by existing MioVision cameras operated by the City of San Rafael are as follows:

• Q1 (January – March): Data not available, camera was not in operation
• Q2 (April – June): 120 pedestrians and 14 bicycles
• Q3 (July – September): 135 pedestrians and 24 bicycles
• Q4 (October – December): 122 pedestrians and 103 bicycles

This information is also included in Table 4 of the “Response to Questions” related to the traffic analysis completed by Kimley-Horn available on the project’s website.

The infrastructure needed to physically tie the intersection to adjacent traffic lights along 2^nd Street in not currently in place. The intersection would be timed via operational modifications. The existing intersection is not timed with adjacent traffic lights.

The City is currently evaluating the feasibility of limiting truck sizes along Marquard Ave. and Fremont Road.

The City is working with our Traffic Division to consider this request separately from the project.

The timing of the pedestrian crossing needs to be completed as part of the 95% design. The timing is determined based on lengths of crosswalks and an assumed typical walking speed of 3.5 feet per second per State guidelines.

The City is considering this request and coordinating with Emergency Services on feasibility.

The City is working with our Public Safety officers to assist with education and enforcement of State and Local laws for all users.

The City’s Department of Public Works team currently cannot clean the narrow bicycle track with a street sweeper and has to clean it manually with boots on the ground.

The City is seeking a solution to streamline this process and increase the frequency.

The current estimated cost for the project is $4 million. This includes construction, inspection services, and outreach efforts during construction.

The project has been awarded funds from the One Bay Area Grant Cycle 3 (OBAG 3) for the construction of the project. OBAG 3 funds must be obligated by January 2027 and fully expended by January 2030 (36 months after construction award).

The City will update the estimated cost for the project as part of the 95% Design effort. The City will inspect any potential funding shortfalls at this time and look for alternative funds if needed.

The City is looking to coordinate future improvements with existing planning documents including the San Rafael General Plan 2040 and the Downtown San Rafael Precise Plan.

Existing trees will be protected or relocated throughout the duration of work.

The City is looking to coordinate future gateway improvements with existing planning documents including the San Rafael General Plan 2040 and the Downtown San Rafael Precise Plan.

The City of San Rafael would maintain the improvements.

The City is working with our Public Safety officers  and Parking Enforcement to consider this request separately from the project.

The City is working with our Traffic Division to consider this request separately from the project.

The City is working with our Traffic Division and Parking Enforcement to consider this question separately from the project.

The City will continue public outreach and communication throughout the life of the project and construction efforts.

The City of San Rafael City Council  maintains the authority to make the final decision on the project design and implementation. The project must continue to align with the grant goals and objects as designated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

The project is currently anticipated to go to the San Rafael City Council for the award of the construction contract and acceptance of the design drawings.

The City is working with AT&T to reconfigure or relocate this utility box to improve visibility at this location. The utility box contains a large fiber network connection and may be difficult to completely relocate from the corner.