Public Works News - San Rafael

New Traffic Signal at Lucas Valley/Los Gamos

Posted on July 22, 2021

On Tuesday, July 20, the new traffic signal at Lucas Valley Road/Los Gamos Road was turned on in anticipation of the opening of the new Kaiser medical offices on Los Gamos Road. Kaiser is certainly happy to be at this point, as it took a few years to work through the Caltrans approval process since...

Southern Heights Bridge project update

Posted on July 19, 2021

The final product is starting to take shape on the Southern Heights Bridge project as the bridge deck was successfully poured on July 1st. There is still plenty of work remaining including installation of the bridge railing, construction of the approach slabs, paving, hydroseeding, bridge lighting, and many smaller items. The City is working with...

Bungalow Ave from Woodland Ave to Picnic Street resurfacing update

Posted on July 19, 2021

The Department of Public Works will be resurfacing Bungalow Avenue from Woodland Avenue to La Loma Court late September. These improvements are part of the City’s Street Resurfacing and are funded through gas tax. Our project will follow the Sanitation District’s (SRSD) sewer main replacement project along Woodland Ave. Their project has begun and will...

Canal neighborhood pedestrian improvements

Posted on July 19, 2021

The City’s contractor Team Ghilotti, Inc., has completed the accessible curb ramp, sidewalk, curb and gutter and roadway improvements at several locations around the Canal Neighborhood. Team Ghilotti is waiting on long lead electrical equipment including, new streetlights and Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFB) that will be installed at seven locations in the Canal Neighborhood...

Francisco Blvd East project update

Posted on July 19, 2021

The Francisco Blvd East Sidewalk project is almost complete! Next week the contractor will be removing the traffic control that has been blocking off a portion of the street during construction. The final steps are to finish installing the new streetlights, remove the old lights, finish a few remaining sidewalk sections, and finish the installation...

New additions to DPW’s Engineering team!

Posted on July 19, 2021

The engineering team in Public Works recently welcomed new fixed term Junior Engineer Alysia Reyes and Dean Allison intern Justin Lin. Alysia came to us after interning for the City of San Jose Department of Transportation for over two years. Her experience in pavement and curb ramp projects will be a great addition to the...

Keeping regular maintenance and safety needs in mind for City vehicles

Posted on July 19, 2021

To keep vehicles running at their best, it is important to keep up with routine maintenance as well as inspections and safety checks. The Vehicle Maintenance staff does a great job of keeping on top of these necessary repairs to ensure City vehicles remain safe and in good operating condition. In the photo, Garage tech...

Regular maintenance duties and special projects keeping DPW busy

Posted on July 19, 2021

The Streets division continues to stay busy with normal duties such as pothole repair and paint/sign maintenance. They have also been involved in special projects such as the cleaning and fencing of the areas under the viaduct as well as the setup of the safe sleeping site. One project they have tackled recently is the...

Vegetation pruning continues along the Terra Linda medians

Posted on July 19, 2021

Parks Division staff have been very busy lately with the yearly pruning of the Terra Linda medians. In the photos you will see Parks Division crew members Jorge Hernandez, Rene Ramos, Valente Curiel, Alfredo Tellez as well as a contracted labor crew making quick work of the pruning along Manuel T. Freitas. Since a lot...

Sand Wasps are at work in the parks

Posted on July 19, 2021

Sand wasps are currently in the parks as part of their natural seasonal cycle. Sand wasps can be seen in and around level, sandy areas July through mid-August. The sand in the playground area at the parks is a favored location for Sand Wasp nesting. They dig tunnels to create single egg nest chambers which...

New All-Way stop at Fourth Street & F Street in the West End

Posted on July 19, 2021

The Department of Public Works completed an assessment to make Fourth Street/F Street an all-way stop controlled intersection. This is the intersection with The Kitchen Table, Dharma Trading Company, and Seawood Photo on the corners. STOP signs were added on Fourth Street on Friday July 23, creating an All-way Stop, to better accommodate pedestrians crossing...

PG&E Night Work:1125 Lincoln Ave on 7/25 thru 7/26

Posted on July 19, 2021

From Sunday, July 25 at 8 pm to Monday, July 26 at 6 am, PG&E will be starting night work at 1125 Lincoln Ave from. They will be replacing an electric transmission tower. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and follow all posted directional signs. Traffic advisories and detour routing options will be utilized...

Resurfacing Bungalow Avenue from Woodland Avenue to La Loma Court

Posted on July 19, 2021

The Department of Public Works (DPW) will be resurfacing Bungalow Avenue from Woodland Avenue to La Loma Court late September. These improvements are part of the City’s Street Resurfacing and are funded through the gas tax fund. DPW's project will follow the Sanitation District’s (SRSD) project. SRSD is replacing their sewer main along Woodland Ave....

Public Hearing Update – Spinnaker Point Drive Parking Modification Project

Posted on July 15, 2021

The public meeting for the Spinnaker Point Drive Parking Modification project will not be held on Monday, July 19th. Instead, the meeting has been postponed to the following City Council meeting on Monday, August 2nd at 7 pm. The purpose of this hearing will be to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and accept the concept...

Tree work starting Monday, July 19

Posted on July 15, 2021

Starting Monday, July 19, the City's contractor, Wilhelm LLC, will be preforming tree work along PG&E powerlines at the locations listed below. Work will commence at 8 am on Monday morning and is expected to last about a week. Traffic control will be in place. Please follow all directional signals and traverse with caution. List...

New All-Way Stop at Fourth Street/F Street in the West End

Posted on July 15, 2021

The Department of Public Works has completed an assessment of the intersection of Fourth Street and F Street in the West End; the intersection with The Kitchen Table, Dharma Trading Company, and Seawood Photo on the corners. STOP signs will be added on Fourth Street, creating an All-way Stop, to better accommodate pedestrians crossing Fourth...

Summer 2021 update on dredging and Umbrella Permitting letter sent to Channel waterfront property owners

Posted on July 7, 2021

Read the full letter sent on July 2, 2021 On July 2, 2021 the City sent a letter to all San Rafael Channel (Canal) waterfront property owners with an update on dredging and the Umbrella Permitting process, given that the Channel was now awarded $6,75m towards dredging in the 2022 President's budget. A link to...

Vegetation pruning continues along Freitas Parkway

Posted on July 6, 2021

The Parks Division crews continue their efforts to further beautify the City with their ongoing vegetation pruning work in Terra Linda with work being done along Freitas Parkway. Once this work is completed, they will move to the Monticello Rd. area. Here you see Parks Division crew members Matt Scales, Camilo Bayot and Jorge Hernandez...

Tree watering along McInnis Parkway

Posted on July 6, 2021

Last year, two projects added close to 140 trees along McInnis Parkway to the City’s watering schedule whereas a normal year adds about 25 - 30 trees to the schedule. With the addition of DPW’s new water tanker, we are able to keep up with the increased demand and helps to give the trees a...

Albert Park Ball Field restroom – Re-thinking the status quo – lumber vs. concrete

Posted on July 6, 2021

(The photo is for illustration only. Actual building design in progress) Contact: A. Fabiola Guillen-Urfer, Sr. Project Manager – Public Works Did you know that lumber prices were up more than 180% since spring of 2020? The construction industry has not experienced such dramatic material cost increases in years. The exponential increase in lumber...

Letter re dredging and umbrella permitting

Summer 2021 updated on dredging and umbrella permitting letter sent to channel waterfront property owners

Posted on July 6, 2021

Welcome to DPW’s new office aide

Posted on July 6, 2021

Please welcome Public Works’ new Office Aide, Nataly Torres! Nataly was born and raised in the Bay Area and attended K-12 in San Rafael. She then went on and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco where she graduated magna cum laude. in San Rafael. During school and after...

PG&E Gas Work – July 7 & 8, 2021

Posted on July 6, 2021

This week, PG&E will be preforming gas work in the following locations: Wednesday, July 7 - 106 D St Wednesday, July 7 - 3 Cottage Ave Wednesday, July 7 - 760 Knockabout Way Thursday, July 8 - 112 Courtright Rd, Please drive with caution and follow any traffic directional signals. Please contact Jason Madayag for...

PG&E Night Work – Starting June 28th

Posted on June 28, 2021

Beginning on June 28, PG&E will be starting night work at 4th Street at D Street. Night work will be from 7 pm – 7 am and will only happen on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. There will also be day work on Sundays, starting July 11 from 8 am – 5 pm. They will be...

Third Street Rehab project: Second St and Third St closure – July 6 & 7, 2021

Posted on June 24, 2021

As part of the City's Third Street Rehabilitation project, the City’s consultant, CSW/STUBER-STROEH, has teamed with contractor, Bess Utility Solutions, to locate underground utilities using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) at intersections along the project limits. GPR is a locating method that uses radio waves to capture images below the road's surface - see image above for...

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement (Caltrans) – Complete Off-ramp Closure – 6/23 2:00am – 6:00 am

Posted on June 22, 2021

Tomorrow morning, Wednesday, June 23, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be issuing a short traffic break on Highway 580 and Highway 101 to relocate a crane. This traffic break will be between 2:00am and 6:00am and should not be longer than 15-20 minutes. While they are setting up for the relocation of the...

San Rafael’s first female City Engineer takes the helm

Posted on June 21, 2021

Last week Public Works announced April Miller was selected for the Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer position. April is San Rafael’s first woman to hold the City Engineer title, and we are thrilled to have her join the management team. While April is new to the Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer role, she is not...

Helping to keep City vehicles on the road

Posted on June 21, 2021

Routine maintenance jobs are very common with when it comes to maintaining the fleet of City vehicles. In the photo, Garage tech Angel Lopez is replacing both catalytic converters on one of the Police Departments patrol vehicles in order to diagnose and repair the check engine lamp that was on. The Vehicle Maintenance staff does...

Vegetation pruning and clean up in the Terra Linda area

Posted on June 21, 2021

Vegetation pruning in an important part of plant care that is done for aesthetic reasons as well as for plant health. In an effort to help continue to beautify the City, the Parks Maintenance crews just recently completed shrub pruning in the median along a section of Freitas Parkway near Monticello Rd. Once this work...

Two new faces in the Land Development Engineering Group

Posted on June 21, 2021

The Land Development engineering team in Public Works also recently welcomed new Junior Engineer Megan Kelly, and Engineering Technician Jason Madayag. Megan came to us with nearly 5 years of experience as a Project Engineer at BKF Engineers, a Bay Area-based engineering firm. During her time at BKF, Megan provided engineering consulting services for major...

Monitoring CalTrans construction at Second and Irwin Streets

Posted on June 21, 2021

Caltrans is upgrading the bridge deck at the US 101 northbound exit to Central San Rafael and the approach is down to two lanes for the next several weeks. The Miovision video detection cameras allow the City to update the detection zones and accurately capture the volumes approaching the intersection so we can monitor traffic...

D St. Re-striping Project

Posted on June 21, 2021

To help alleviate some of the traffic issues in the southbound direction on D St. from 3rd to 2nd St., members of the Streets Division did early morning tasks to do grind down work on existing thermo as well as restripe a secondary lane to allow cars to flow across 2nd street to help curb...

MMWD 5th Ave Waterline Project – Final Paving on Irwin and 5th

Posted on June 17, 2021

This Saturday, June 19 from 6 am to 2 pm, the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) will be preforming the final paving of the waterline trench on the intersection of Fifth Ave and Irwin St. The west driving lane and parking lane of Irwin St will be unavailable. Detours will be in place. Motorists are...

Public Works is hiring an Office Aide!

Posted on June 17, 2021

Link to job flyer Interested in City government? Looking for an opportunity to gain valuable entry-level office administration experience in the public sector, in a supportive, team-oriented environment? The Public Works Administration division is looking for an Office Aide to join our team. This is an entry-level position, and no previous work experience is required....

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement (Caltrans) Complete Offramp Closure for Offramp Reconfiguration – Sunday, June 20 to Monday June 21

Posted on June 17, 2021

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has been making steady progress on the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project and the next phase of work will require modifications to the off ramp configuration in order to remove the existing bridge and install piles. Starting Sunday, June 21 through July 2021, the 101...

Tree work along PG&E powerlines to begin 6/21/2021

Posted on June 17, 2021

On Monday, June 21, contractor Wilhelm LLC, will be preforming tree work on behalf of PG&E. Tree crews will be working along PG&E powerlines at the following locations: 18 BLOSSOM DR 8 BRET HARTE LANE 83 BRET HARTE RD 270 BRET HARTE RD 424 BRET HARTE RD 200 BRET HARTE ROAD 453 BRET HARTE ROAD...

Perimeter fence installation at Pickleweed Park Playground

Posted on June 17, 2021

Many Canal area residents have requested that the City look into fencing the playground area at Pickleweed Park. Thanks to a Community Development Block Grant, the City was able to procure a fencing contractor to install a 4-foot vinyl-coated fence around the perimeter of the playground. The installation began on Monday, June 14th with most...

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement_Caltrans - Complete Offramp Closure - June 20 - June 21

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement (Caltrans) – Complete Offramp Closure – 6/20 9:00pm – 6/21 8:00 am

Posted on June 15, 2021

Caltrans has been making steady progress on the off-ramp bridge replacement and the next phase of work will require modifications to the off ramp configuration in order to remove the existing bridge and install piles. Starting Sunday through July 2021, the 101 NB Central San Rafael exit will have a reduction in travel lanes from three lanes...

Addition of a left-turn pocket on southbound D Street to Second Street

Posted on June 15, 2021

In the morning of this Thursday and Friday, June 17 and 18, Public Works maintenance crews will be making modifications to intersection of Second Street and D Street. A left turn pocket is being added to provide more queuing space for cars making their way southbound on D Street. Two on-street parking spaces are being...

CableCom to preform work at Elizabeth Way from Ridgewood Drive and Forbes Ave

Posted on June 14, 2021

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday June 15, to Friday, June 18, CableCom will preform work on Elizabeth Way from Ridgewood Drive and Forbes Ave. There will be no street closures and roads are expected to maintain fully accessible to traffic. Please see enclosed map for work area. For any questions and inquiries, please contact project manager, Tonya...

Spinnaker Point Parking Modifications – Initial study / mitigated negative declaration

Posted on June 11, 2021

The CEQA 30-day public review period of this project’s Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration began on May 24th, 2021 and will close on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021. Electronic copies of these documents can be downloaded by visiting the project webpage. All written comments on the Initial Study must be submitted to the City by Tuesday, June 22nd,...

Canal Neighborhood Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project – Starts June 2, 2021

Posted on June 11, 2021

Starting on Tuesday, June 2, the City’s contractor, Team Ghilotti, will perform various improvements throughout the Canal neighborhood. These improvements are part of the City’s Canal Neighborhood Pedestrian Safety Improvements project, and include ADA upgrades, crosswalks refreshing, and the installation of Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFB’s). This project will provide RRFB’s at six of the most...

Ongoing large equipment maintenance

Posted on June 11, 2021

The Vehicle maintenance division plays a critical part in DPWs street sweeping operations. Sweepers are used daily and have many complex moving parts and systems that require constant attention. From the vacuum systems, sweeper brooms, auxiliary hydraulics, and dust control to the complex electrical system that controls and monitors, the vehicle maintenance staff have their...

Finishing touches completed on Robert Dollar Dr.

Posted on June 11, 2021

This past week, the Streets Division staff put some finishing touches up on Robert Dollar Dr. The gate to the fire road was moved down closer to the roadway and large boulders were installed to eliminate parking areas which are frequented by vehicles playing loud music and other mischievous activities that are a nuisance to...

Taking advantage of a teachable moment

Posted on June 11, 2021

The other day, a woman who commutes to San Rafael to teach a fourth-grade class phoned in to voice her frustration about Third St./Lindaro St. traffic signal going into flash and about the CalTrans off-ramp project. I phoned her back to help provide some explanations about her frustrations. She then put me on speaker phone...

Third Street Progression

Posted on June 11, 2021

Prior to Fall 2020, Central San Rafael did not have detection at most of the intersections downtown. This meant that the traffic signals operated on a pre-timed schedule. Pre-timing is based on traffic volumes collected on one “typical” day and a team of engineers develops timing plans for the weekday morning, midday, and evening peaks...

Spinnaker Point Parking Modifications – Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

Posted on June 8, 2021

Second and Irwin Intersection Lane Configuration Rendering (Caltrans)

Monday, June 7 – Friday, June 11 – Right Lane Closure of 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp

Posted on June 7, 2021

From Monday, June 7 to Friday, June 11, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans to close the far-right lane of the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp for five consecutive nights from the hours of 3 am to 12 pm. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and follow all posted directional signs. Traffic...

Mountain Park Project – June to July 2021

Posted on June 7, 2021

Beginning on June 7th, 2021, fuel reduction project work will commence on the Mountain Park open space area and is expected to take 3-4 weeks to complete. The project work will be completed by the City’s tree service contractor, the Professional Tree Care Company. No impacts to residential roads are expected to occur from the...

San Rafael Channel dredging appropriated $6,750,000 in the FY 2022 President’s Budget

Posted on June 4, 2021

On Friday, May 28, 2021 the Fiscal Year 2022 President’s Budget was released, and included $6,750,000 for San Rafael Channel Dredging. The Federal Fiscal Year 2022 runs from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. The President’s Budget, issued by the Executive Branch, is the first step in the FY 2022 budgeting process for Army...

Canal Neighborhood Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project – Start on June 2, 2021

Posted on May 27, 2021

Starting Tuesday, June 2, the City's contractor, Team Ghilotti, will preform various improvements throughout the Canal neighborhood. These improvements are part of the City's Canal Neighborhood Pedestrian Safety Improvements project, and include ADA upgrades, crosswalks refreshing, and the installation of Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFB's). This project will provide RRFB's at six of the most...

Francisco Boulevard East Lane Closure May 2021 BKF

Francisco Blvd East lane closure – May 28 and May 30

Posted on May 27, 2021

This weekend, the City’s sub consultant, BKF Engineers, will be gathering existing data for the Francisco Boulevard East Resurfacing project. This work will require a lane closure along Francisco Blvd East between Vivian Street and Grand Avenue. This will occur on Friday, May 28th at 9pm to Saturday, May 29th at 6am and on Saturday,...

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Complete Closure – 5/27 9:00pm – 5/28 10:00 am

Posted on May 25, 2021

On Thursday May 27, at 9:00 pm through Friday, May 28, at 10:00 am, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be closing the entire 101 NB Central San Rafael Off Ramp for the installation of K-rails and shifting of traffic to the temporary bridge. After this bridge closure, there will be three lanes open...

Upcoming City Furlough Schedule – May 28 – May 31

Posted on May 25, 2021

On Friday, May 28, City Hall and most non-essential City facilities, including Public Works, will be closed in accordance with the non-public safety Furlough Schedule, which is a cost-saving measure in response to significant COVID-19 related revenue losses the City continues to experience. The 13-day closure schedule, as approved by our City Council, is effective...

Fire Stations 54 & 55 Replacement Project Bid Results

Posted on May 24, 2021

On Tuesday, May 18th at 2:00 PM, the City of San Rafael read aloud bids for the Fire Stations 54 and 55 Replacement project. A total of two bids were received from firms that pre-qualified for this project. Please see document below for the bids received: Fire Stations 54 & 55 Replacement Project Bid Results

Tree work to begin 5/24 to 5/28/2021 in the Lincoln/San Rafael Hill neighborhood

Posted on May 24, 2021

Starting May 24 through May 28, 2021 San Rafael Fire Department, in coordination with the Department of Public Works, have contracted a team to schedule roadside tree pruning and vegetation clearing in the Lincoln/San Rafael Hill neighborhood.

National Public Works Week & a video about our Maintenance Divisions

Posted on May 21, 2021

At the May 17th City Council meeting, Mayor Kate proclaimed the week of May 16 – May 22, 2021 as National Public Works week, in honor of the contribution public works personnel make to their communities: in the maintenance, planning, design, and construction of streets, transportation facilities, parks, storm drains, public buildings and operations, right-of-way...

Resident survey for all-way stop at Professional Center Parkway and Channing Way (south) intersection

Posted on May 21, 2021

There has been a request for an All-Way Stop at the intersection of Professional Center Parkway and Channing Way (south) intersection to facilitate improved pedestrian crossings across Professional Center Parkway. The purpose of this letter is to ask the users of this intersection if they: Support an All-Way Stop at Professional Center/Channing (south) Do not...

DPW prepares for fire season

Posted on May 21, 2021

DPW maintenance staff and its contractors have been making a concerted effort in creating defensible space on properties adjacent to city Open Space as well as reducing roadside ignition sources. A contracted labor crew has been working around the Boyd Park and Robert Dollar Dr. open space areas weed eating tall grass, hand pulling broom...

Finishing touches complete in DSOG space

Posted on May 21, 2021

One of the finishing touches completed by the Facilities Department was the addition of full wall white board paint to the East wall in the DSOG director’s new office. This project was completed by Facilities team staff member Anthoney Heaven.

Benches at San Rafael Community Center removed

Posted on May 21, 2021

Several of the planks of the benches located at the San Rafael Community Center were repeatedly broken and had been damaged in the past and as a result, the decision was made to have the benches removed.

DPW increases its ability to utilize recycled water for irrigation

Posted on May 21, 2021

DPW recently picked up its new (slightly used) water truck this past week. With the water restrictions in place, DPW had to increase its capabilities of using recycled water for irrigations purposes. The truck is in great condition and only needs a few additions like warning lights and decals from the Vehicle Maintenance Division to...

US 101 NB Bridge Replacement (Caltrans) Project Location

Monday, 5/17 to Tuesday, 5/18 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Closure

Posted on May 17, 2021

From Monday, May 17th at 10 PM to Tuesday, May 18th at 7 AM, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform work on the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project in the City of San Rafael. The full off-ramp will be closed for the placement of a temporary bridge. Motorists are...

Professional Center Parkway and Channing Way All-Way Stop survey

Posted on May 14, 2021

There has been a request for an All-Way Stop at the intersection of Professional Center Parkway and Channing Way (south) intersection to facilitate improved pedestrian crossings across Professional Center Parkway. We are interested in understanding how the local community feels about an All-Way Stop at this location. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to...

815 B St Project Road Closure – 5/9 to 5/10

Posted on May 7, 2021

Starting Sunday, May 9 at 8 pm to Monday, May 10 at 6 am, Second St between C St and B St will be closed for repaving. This is for the new residential project at 815 B . The preferred detour is up to Fourth Street and down B Street. One lane of B Street...

Drought and water use restrictions

Posted on May 7, 2021

With the recent water use restrictions put in place by the Marin Municipal Water District, DPW will be altering operations for the use of recycled water for irrigation and street cleaning purposes. The switch to recycled water presents logistical challenges as there are only a few recycled water hydrant locations in the city that can...

Vegetation pruning season is here

Posted on May 7, 2021

As Spring arrives, the Parks staff has been busy pruning medians and roadside vegetation. A crew of 4-6 maintenance workers is responsible for pruning and clean up for most of the medians and roadsides in the city. It is a tall task, but staff work their way down the list throughout the spring and summer....

New hybrid patrol cars have arrived

Posted on May 7, 2021

DPW recently received its order of 5 new hybrid patrol cars to replace 5 older model non-hybrid patrol cars. DPW staff will coordinate with the Police Department and vendors to get these cars outfitted to be placed into service. Since a hybrid battery powers the vehicle electronics instead of the gasoline engine while idling, we...

Attempted break in damages Boyd Gate House door

Posted on May 7, 2021

On or about April 10th - 11th there was an attempted break in of the Boyd Gate House. Fortunately, the individual was unsuccessful in gaining access inside but did a considerable amount of damage to the lower portion of the door. Facilities team members Omar Garcia and Anthoney Heaven assessed the damage and made the necessary repairs to the door and door jamb.

City Hall modular building moves to 955 Point San Pedro Rd

Posted on May 7, 2021

Another perfect example of teamwork! This week, the modular building located on the upper City Hall parking lot, has been relocated. This structure used to serve as the temporary living quarters for Fire Station 51 staff. After the relocation, the building will be used as temporary Fire Station 55 located on the grassy area on...

Southern Heights Bridge replacement project update

Posted on May 7, 2021

After completing the two concrete bridge columns, the contractor has been working on setting up the supports (also known as falsework) needed to construct the bridge deck. Additionally, the outer walls of the two abutments at both ends of the bridge have been completed. In the coming weeks, the contractor will be focusing on finishing...

MMWD Paving Work at Mission Ave and Grand Ave – Thursday, May 6

Posted on May 4, 2021

On Thursday, May 6, the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) will be doing some paving work at the Mission Ave and Grand Ave intersection from 8 am to 3:30 pm. Flaggers will be directing cars through the area. Please obey temporary traffic control and expect delays. For questions and inquiries, please contact project manager, Gino...

Fire Station 54 & 55 Pre-Bid Site Visit

Posted on May 3, 2021

As part of the Fire Station 54 & 55 Request for Proposals (RFP), pre-qualified contractors were required to participate in a site visit to the project location in order to be eligible to bid. The following contractors are attended the site visit: Contractor Name Contact National Garage Door Kevin Lenis GCCI, Inc. Chris Brown Wright...

Full trash capture device project

Posted on April 23, 2021

The City continues to study design alternatives for installing a full trash capture device in the Canal neighborhood. The project will place a trash capture device near the outflow where pump stations discharge water into the bay so that the City can comply with new law that requires us to reduce trash reaching the bay....

Modifications for the Police Department evidence area

Posted on April 23, 2021

Beginning around mid-March, the Facilities team was asked by the Police Department to reconfigure their existing evidence cage to a new location as well as increase its size. Facilities team members Omar Garcia, Anthoney Heaven (pictured) and Michael Rieser all worked together on this project and completed the reconfiguration by the end of March. And to assist in keeping costs down, all existing materials were reused.

Preventative maintenance on SRPD SWAT trailer

Posted on April 23, 2021

Vehicle Maintenance staff have been keeping busy with routine preventive maintenance and tackling unexpected repairs. In the photo you will see Garage tech Angel Lopez performing a wheel bearing service and checking the brakes on the Police Departments SWAT Trailer. Jobs like this often get overlooked as they are out of sight/out of mind, but...

Robert Dollar Dr. parking area modifications

Posted on April 23, 2021

Streets Division staff made some modifications to the upper parking area on Robert Dollar Dr. The paving crew, which includes Lead worker Kenny Gatlin and Maintenance workers Mike Castaneda Jeremy Quintal, Matt Gaehwiler extended the paved area to accommodate new parallel parking spaces. The paint and signs crew, which includes Lead worker Tyler Nord and...

Thursday, April 22 Road Closures

Posted on April 21, 2021

The City's contractor, Treemasters, will be preforming some tree work tomorrow, April 22. Starting at 9 am, a section of Miramar Ave near Miraflores will be closed. In addition, the second lane going eastbound on Second St between East St and Miramar Ave will be closed. Please see enclosed maps for reference. For any questions...

Traffic Signals Flashing April 21 – Downtown San Rafael

Posted on April 21, 2021

The City's contractors, Econolite, will be upgrading the firmware at the following locations this morning, starting at 9:30 am. These intersections will go into flash for a couple minutes: Third St and Union St Third St and B St Third St and D St For an questions and inquiries on this mornings upgrade, please contact...

Fire Station 54 and 55 – Request for Proposals (CLOSED)

Posted on April 20, 2021

In the 1960s, Fire Stations 54 and 55 were designed and built. Fire Station 54 is located at 46 Castro Avenue in the Canal neighborhood. Fire Station 55 is located at 955 Point San Pedro Road between Knight Drive and Peacock Drive. Both fire stations are now beyond their useful life. For more information on...

San Rafael High School Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon to Activate on Thursday, April 15

Posted on April 12, 2021

para Español haga clic aquí On Thursday, April 15, the City's contractors are activating the pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB) signal on Third Street in front of San Rafael High School. A long-range goal of the City and San Rafael City Schools and has been a more direct connection between San Rafael High School and the...

City Council April 19th meeting: Golden Gate Transit presentation on San Rafael Transit Center relocation

Posted on April 9, 2021

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, also known as, Golden Gate Transit, has begun a multi-year process to develop a new transit center for San Rafael. The current transit center, located in downtown San Rafael, has been affected by the extension of the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system to Larkspur. The tracks bisect the site where the San Rafael Transit Center...

Informational meeting on the Third Street Rehabilitation and Safety projects

Posted on April 9, 2021

On March 24th City Staff and their design consultant, CSW, held a virtual community meeting for the Third Street Rehabilitation and Safety projects. This meeting gave an overview of the project & goals, proposed street lighting, and construction impacts. The video and PowerPoint presentation have been posted to the city website for anyone who missed...

Spinnaker Point Parking Modifications Project

Posted on April 9, 2021

Following the completion of significant park improvements in summer 2019 at Pickleweed Park, the playground at the former Spinnaker Point Parking Modifications was removed in anticipation of a project to widen Canal Street/Spinnaker Point Drive and create additional on-street parking. Staff have completed the design of the improvements and continue to work with an environmental...

Pickleweed Childcare Center gate upgrade

Posted on April 9, 2021

Last week, the Facilities Team got to work replacing the old gate and pergola located at the Pickleweed Childcare Center. Being located at an entrance to the childcare center, the gate is heavily utilized and was becoming difficult for staff to open and close. Here, Facilities Team members Omar Garcia and Michael Rieser are seen erecting the new gate at...

DPW busy with spring cleaning and sprucing up around the city

Posted on April 9, 2021

The Parks Division has been very busy as we enter spring. They continue their twice weekly maintenance rounds of City Parks and the downtown area while also supporting the Sidewalk Repair Program with the planting of 90 trees total for this round. In the photo you will see Parks Division staff Jorge Hernandez, Rene Ramos...

DPW helping to keep roads safe and passable

Posted on April 9, 2021

The Streets Division has been keeping busy with road repairs and paint refreshing. A 75-foot section of roadway along the curb and gutter on Kerner Blvd had significant root damage from nearby trees that had been previously removed. In the photo you will see Streets Division paving crew members Kenny Gatlin, Arturo Tinoco, Jeremy Quintal...

Tracking pedestrian volumes at Dining under the Lights

Posted on April 9, 2021

Anecdotally, I think you would hear that Dining Under the Lights is a successful event, gets people out of the house, and brings them to Fourth Street. With our new data collection technology, the Traffic Engineering division can tell you for sure that there is a rise in pedestrian activity by an average of 32...

Tracking red light runners through downtown

Posted on April 9, 2021

Another metric that the Traffic Engineering division has been reviewing is red light runners. Below is an example of Fourth Street/C Street. Many drivers are getting through the intersection on the yellow, but there are quite a few going through the intersection on a red light. We are using this to consider lengthening the yellow...

Upcoming Road Closure Rice Drive to Andersen Drive from April 12 to April 16 Detour Map

Upcoming Multi-Use Pathway Closure: Rice Drive to Andersen Drive from April 12 to April 16

Posted on April 7, 2021

From Monday, April 12 to Friday, April 16, the City's contractor, Van Midde & Son Concrete, will replace two concrete flags along the Multi-Use Pathway between Andersen Drive and Rice drive. The pathway will be closed for the duration of construction (see map for reference). Pedestrians and bicyclists are advised to use Andersen Drive as...

“Temporary Outdoor Dining Area (Commercial Parklet)” Building Permit type for overhead structures

Posted on March 25, 2021

Link to apply for a building permit for semi-permanent outdoor dining areas with overhead structures As a part of the City's COVID outdoor dining program, the City is requiring any restaurant seeking to use public parking spaces for dining to apply on the COVID Outdoor Dining, Retail & Salons webpage. This includes for both temporary...

Third Street Corridor Rehabilitation and Safety Improvements Virtual Community Meeting Wednesday, March 24

Posted on March 23, 2021

The design for the Third Street Rehabilitation and Third Street Safety projects are moving into the final stage. Construction is anticipated on both projects to begin in the Summer 2021. The City is hosting a virtual public meeting for the Third Street Corridor Projects to discuss the construction process and impacts to the community. This...

Third Street and San Rafael High School Crosswalk Project to be completed by early April 2021

Posted on March 19, 2021

After a long delay, the traffic signal cabinet and controller have finally arrived at the Public Works corp yard. The consultant has begun the process of assembling the new cabinet and controller this week. It must run in the shop for a several days to make sure it is functioning property before we send it...

Ongoing street maintenance helps keep things moving around the City

Posted on March 19, 2021

Without a system of well-maintained streets, vehicles have a tough time getting through the City. The Streets Division staff has been busy performing various road repairs throughout the City. This includes pothole filling and larger skim patches. Streets staff frequently use a variety of equipment for these repairs including compressors, jack hammers, backhoes, and our...

Tree planting and vegetation clean up of outdoor spaces

Posted on March 19, 2021

The last couple of weeks have proven to be very busy for the Parks Division in support of the Sidewalk Repair Program. They began the tree planting process as well as doing vegetation cleanups along the roadside and medians in the Terra Linda area. They have also been busy assisting CalTrans in the weekly cleanup...

DPW continues clean up efforts after recent storms

Posted on March 19, 2021

Recent rain and windstorms brought some trees and tree limbs down throughout the City. Fortunately, none of the falling limbs caused any serious damage or harm. DPW staff as well as on call contractors are always ready to respond when these events happen. In the photo you will see Streets Division and Parks Division crew...

Sidewalk Repair Program update

Posted on March 19, 2021

The Sidewalk Repair Program continues to be one of Public Works’ most popular programs when it comes to resident participation. Since the program first began accepting applications for the program in 2018, more than 500 properties in San Rafael have signed up to have their sidewalk replaced through it. While neighborhoods have been thrilled at...

Francisco Blvd East sidewalk project update

Posted on March 19, 2021

This week the contractor moved onto the final two phases of the Francisco Blvd East Sidewalk project. The traffic control barriers have been shifted to begin the replacement of sidewalk between Yacht Club and the Grand Avenue Bridge. During the final phase, there may be the need for night work. Construction is still anticipated to...

Public Works welcomes new Associate Civil Engineer Matt Pepin

Posted on March 19, 2021

Last week Public Works welcomed the newest addition to the Engineering team: Associate Civil Engineer Matt Pepin. Matt came to us with nearly a decade of experience as a Project Engineer at Langan, a San Francisco-based engineering firm. During his time at Langan, Matt worked on major developments in San Francisco such as the Chase...

Communication upgrades for Terra Linda

Posted on March 19, 2021

Downtown San Rafael gets a lot of attention from the Traffic division, for good reason. It is our most congested area within City limits, carries the highest volume of vehicles, sees the most pedestrian activity, and is home to a very busy transit center. With the installation of video detection in Central San Rafael, the...