Public Works News - San Rafael

Fire Station 54 and 55 – Request for Proposals

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 Crosswalks Pedestrial Hybrid Beacon

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...

Schoen Park modifications

Posted on April 9, 2021

Following the completion of significant park improvements in summer 2019 at Pickleweed Park, the playground at the former Schoen Park 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 consultant on...

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...

Central San Rafael Detour Map for Caltrans 101 NB Bridge Replacement project

REMINDER: 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Weekend Closure Starts Tonight

Posted on March 19, 2021

Beginning this evening, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the first of three 55-hour weekend closures for the NB 101 Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The first closure will start tonight, Friday, March 19 at 10:00 pm and reopen on Monday, March 22 at 5:00 am. Detours will be in place....

5th Ave Closure – Monday, March 22

Posted on March 18, 2021

On this Monday, March 22, 5th Ave between B St and C St will be closed from 7 AM - 3 PM for the AC Marriott Hotel construction project. For any questions or concerns, please contact the Mike Dingler at mdingler@csigc.com.

Northbound US 101 Central San Rafael Off-ramp Closure – Fri., March 19 at 10:00 PM – Mon., March 22 at 5:00 AM.

Posted on March 18, 2021

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the first of three 55-hour weekend closures for the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The first closure will start on Friday, March 19 at 10:00 pm and reopen on Monday, March 22 at 5:00 am. Detours will be in place; please see familiarize yourself ...

Fire Station 54 & 55 Pre-Qualification Results

Posted on March 17, 2021

On January 28, 2021, the City of San Rafael issued a pre-qualification questionnaire for the Fire Station 54 & 55 construction project to pre-qualify contractors that can bid on the project. Submissions were due on February 16, 2021. The following is a list of the contractors who have pre-qualified for this project (listed in alphabetical...

City Council meeting presentation recap: 101 NB Central San Rafael off-ramp bridge replacement project

Posted on March 16, 2021

On the March 15th City Council meeting, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) presented an informational report on the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. This is a major improvement project that requires heavy construction and will cause disruption to residents and businesses. Special thanks to Caltrans Regional Project Manager, Wajahat Nyaz,...

Junior Engineer - Land development fixed term

Public Works Land Development is hiring a Junior Engineer!

Posted on March 16, 2021

View the recruitment flyer This job assists in the development and management of public works construction projects or programs through every phase, including mapping, drafting, reporting and field inspection. We are seeking a candidate who is up to the challenge of working in a dynamic department. This job will require creative problem-solving, community engagement, and...

First 55-Hour Weekend Closure of Northbound US-101 Off-Ramp Starting Friday, March 19, until Monday, March 22

Posted on March 9, 2021

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the first of three 55-hour weekend closures for the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The first closure will start on Friday, March 19 at 10:00 PM and reopen on Monday, March 22 at 5:00 AM. Detours will be in place; please see the...

Dining Under the Lights returns 3/11 – Thurs & Fri night 4th Street closure

Posted on March 5, 2021

Dining Under the Lights is returning to downtown San Rafael every Thursday and Friday night beginning Thursday March 11! Launched in summer 2020 in partnership with the Downtown Business Improvement District, the City's Dining Under the Lights program was a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support our downtown restaurants and bars by enabling...

How the cost of Umbrella Permitting will be apportioned among participating properties

Posted on March 5, 2021

After careful considerations on this specific topic, the City and consultant Haley & Aldrich have developed an approach for apportioning the cost of Umbrella Permitting among participating waterfront Channel property owners. There are two costs which will need to be apportioned as a part of the umbrella private dock/marina dredging process (i.e. all dredging that occurs outside the federal...

San Rafael Public Safety Center wins an APWA Award

Posted on March 5, 2021

Congratulations to the Department of Public Works (DPW) for winning an American Public Works Association (APWA) award for the Public Safety Center. DPW took this award home for the Northern California Small Cities and Rural Communities Award under the Structures category. APWA is an international professional association of public works agencies. This awards ceremony was...

Third Street Virtual Community Meeting

Posted on March 5, 2021

The design for the Third Street Rehabilitation and Third Street Safety projects are wrapping up. Construction is anticipated on both projects to begin in the Summer 2021. The City will be hosting a virtual public meeting for the Third Street Corridor Rehabilitation & Safety Projects on March 24th from 6-7:30pm. This meeting will provide a...

Removal of temporary building – Former Fire Station 51 office

Posted on March 5, 2021

Early this week, one of the buildings on the upper City Hall Parking Lot, which used to serve as the office for the temporary Station 51, was removed. The removal of this building took contributions from various City departments. For example, Parking Services and Public Works Streets assisted with blocking off the necessary parking spaces...

101 NB Central San Rafael off-ramp bridge replacement presentation on March 15th City Council Meeting

Posted on March 5, 2021

On the March 15th City Council Meeting, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be providing an informational report on the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. In 1941, the bridge structure at the 101 NB Central San Rafael off-ramp was built and is now no longer seismically safe. Caltrans plans to...

Annual Street Resurfacing Program update

Posted on March 5, 2021

The City of San Rafael’s annual street resurfacing program has seen a significant loss in revenue throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The City’s streets are maintained with gas tax revenue and with the large drop in gas sales statewide the City’s gas tax revenue has also dropped proportionately. Even with this dramatic drop in revenue the...

Southern Heights Blvd Bridge replacement project update

Posted on March 5, 2021

After almost 11 weeks, the old timbre bridge has been totally removed and work has begun on the foundation of the new concrete bridge. The last couple of weeks have been spent drilling the six holes where the concrete CIDH (cast-in-drilled-hole) piles will be constructed. These piles will support the bridge columns and abutments. Some...

Keeping up with the demands of regular maintenance for City vehicles

Posted on March 5, 2021

The Vehicle Maintenance Division has been keeping busy with the regular maintenance of City vehicles. The Vehicle maintenance division usually keeps about 15-20 extra patrol car tires on hand as these are replaced frequently and if any minor defect are found. Supervisor Gerardo Paredes is also in the process of sending some vehicles that are...

Parks Division crew doing some early spring cleaning and field prep

Posted on March 5, 2021

Parks Division staff have taken advantage of the nice weather to get a head start on landscaping and other maintenance needs. They’ve been busy with the pruning and cleanup of the entrance median in Terra Linda, weed eating in various locations, hedging of shrubs, and pruning of roses bushes. Here you will see Alex Nacaspaca,...

MTF Pkwy and Redwood Hwy street repair 1

DPW helping to keep City streets maintained

Posted on March 5, 2021

treets Division staff repaired an area of concern located at the intersection of Manuel T. Freitas and Redwood Hwy this past week. A tree root was causing major uplifting of the roadway, curb, and gutter area. Early one morning, crews with the Streets Division began work to remove the damaged roadway and large root ball. ...

Sprucing up Albert’s Park Lane

Posted on March 5, 2021

With the nice break in the weather, our paint crew have had a chance to do some much-needed touch up paint work along Albert's Park Lane. The crosswalks and parking stall lines were faded and in need of a touch up. Streets Division staff members Mike Castaneda and Trevor Thomas were able to apply fresh...

COVID Outdoor Dining in parking spaces now approved through November 2022

Posted on March 3, 2021

All current permits for COVID outdoor dining now automatically valid through November 30, 2022. City officials have approved all temporary and semi-permanent structures built in the parking lane, as a part of the current COVID Outdoor Dining program, to remain at least until November 30, 2022. The City and elected officials listened to the restaurant...

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Full Weekend Closure Tentatively set for March 19-21

Posted on March 1, 2021

Starting Friday, March 19, 2021 at 10 PM to Monday, March 22 at 5 AM, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will implement a 24/7 full off-ramp closure as part of their Highway 101 Northbound Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project in the City of San Rafael. This is the first of three, 55-hour weekend closures related to this project. For all roadway detours, please visit the...

How the cost of Umbrella Permitting will be apportioned among participating properties

Posted on February 27, 2021

Street Sweeping Starts March 1

Posted on February 24, 2021

As of March 1, regular street sweeping will commence. Check the schedule using the Sweeper Map so the sweeper can keep the streets and storm drains clean for everybody. On the map, there is an 'Info' button with basic instructions on how to use the map in the upper left just under the 'Search' bar....

Tiscornia Marsh Restoration Project Dredging map

Public Works, U.S. Army Corps, and Audubon Society staff meet with BRRIT on Tiscornia Marsh Restoration Project using San Rafael dredging materials

Posted on February 19, 2021

On January 27th Public Works staff, project managers from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Audubon Society Tiscornia Marsh project leads met with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Regulatory Integration Team (BRRIT) to discuss how to address the challenges to getting the Tiscornia Marsh permitted as a deposit location for sediments removed...

Private property owners along the San Rafael Channel participating in umbrella permitting asked to review draft map for dredging limits

Posted on February 19, 2021

The City-hired consultant Scott Bodensteiner of Haley & Aldrich is moving forward with the next steps in coordinating the permitting process for the dredging of private docks and harbors along the San Rafael Channel. The USACE is only responsible for the dredging of the federal channel – the limits of which do not extend all...

Francisco Blvd West Multi-Use Path Phase 2 complete

Posted on February 19, 2021

Earlier this month the City completed the Class IV bikeway on Francisco Blvd West between Rice Drive and 2nd Street. This segment is part of the larger North-South Greenway through Marin County, which is one of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s highest priorities. San Rafael is thankful to all the project funding sponsors for contributing...

Makin Grade service road gate repair

Posted on February 19, 2021

On January 27th the Facilities department was contacted by SRPD about a frequently used service road gate on Makin Grade that needed repair. The left gate post was rotted out and unable to be secured and the latch and hinges needed to be replaced as they were extremely rusted and worn. Facilities staff members Michael Rieser, Anthoney Heaven and Omar Garcia worked to install a...

New Bucket truck added to the DPW Maintenance Vehicle fleet

Posted on February 19, 2021

DPW recently acquired a used bucket truck for our Maintenance Divisions. Purchasing a used truck saved the City approximately $30,000 dollars compared to a new one. The truck will also help to save the City money by not having to rely on a contractor for work requiring a bucket truck. The truck will be used...

Scan Tool software - PD vehicle disinfection

DPW helping to keep police vehicles safe

Posted on February 19, 2021

Recently, the Garage Division purchased a laptop that was loaded with the Ford Factory Scan Tool Software (fortunately, an inexpensive used system was found). This device will help to expand the capability of the garage staff and reduce the need to rely on the dealership. One of the features the Garage staff has started utilizing...

Early Spring cleaning around the City

Posted on February 19, 2021

The drier weather has allowed Parks Division staff to switch back to some of their normal duties after zoning with the Streets Division. Some of these duties include irrigation repairs, continued work on the field at Alberts Park and regular routine park maintenance. One item that has been on the list was pruning the vegetation...

Streets Division helping downtown outdoor dining make a comeback

Posted on February 19, 2021

Streets Division staff have been busy with multiple projects. From continuous cleaning of roadside drainage ditches to sign and paint work, the list never ends. The Pumps/Paving/Drainage crew have been utilizing a rented mini excavator to make short work of some drainage cleaning. The Paints/Signs crew has been assisting in the re-setup of outdoor dining...

Innovative deployment of Enhanced Arterials (IDEA) Grant update

Posted on February 19, 2021

Construction is complete for the IDEA grant, which provided Central San Rafael Traffic signals with upgraded signal cabinets and controllers, video detection, and communication. The average driver probably wouldn’t have noticed the upgrades, but we are hopeful that with traffic monitoring and the signal performance measures providing reports to the traffic engineering division that we...

Notice of Construction Activities Starting February 22, 2021- Southern Heights Bridge

Posted on February 17, 2021

Starting next week, the City's contractor, Substrate, Inc. will begin drilling foundation piles for the Southern Heights Bridge Replacement project. This operation will be loud and residents may experience some minor vibration. There will be monitors in place for both sound and vibration. Construction occurs Monday through Friday from 7am to 5pm. For more information...

Overnight Closures of Northbound US-101 Central Off-Ramp

Posted on February 16, 2021

On Monday, February 8, 2021, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) begun the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project in the city of San Rafael. Using new and innovative construction technology, the project will perform removal and replacement on the current bridge footprint, located at the northbound off-ramp on US Highway 101....

Overnight Closures of US-101 Northbound Central Off-Ramp, San Rafael

Posted on February 11, 2021

On Monday, February 8, 2021, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) begun the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project in the City of San Rafael. Using new and innovative construction technology, the project will perform removal and replacement on the current bridge footprint, located at the northbound off-ramp on US Highway 101....

Upcoming City Furlough Schedule – 2/12

Posted on February 11, 2021

On Friday, February 12, 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...

Caltrans Issues Noise Advisory for 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement – 2/14

Posted on February 10, 2021

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) issues a Noise Advisory for 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project starting on Sunday, February 14, 2021 at 9PM. During this time, the construction team reach the first stage of the bridge transition process. This will be a noisy operation carried out nightly as this is...

Caltrans Continues Work on the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement Starting Tonight at 9PM

Posted on February 8, 2021

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 starting February 8 at 9PM. The project team will begin bridge removal work on the original structure, located at the northbound off-ramp on US Highway 101. The bridge removal...

Third and Lindaro Intersection presented to BPAC

Posted on February 5, 2021

This past Wednesday February 3, City Staff presented a second alternative to the Third and Lindaro intersection at the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). This second alternative was a result of public input received after the City Staff presented a recommendation to City Council in November 2020. This recommendation showed the closure of a...

Ongoing maintenance at the Public Safety Center

Posted on February 5, 2021

New door sweeps were installed on the Public Safety Center Police Department Patio area to prevent water intrusion. Door sweeps were missing in several locations throughout the Public Safety Center building and are being installed as needed.

San Rafael High School – Third Street Crosswalk project update

Posted on February 5, 2021

The contractor has finished work on the new Third Street-San Rafael High School Crosswalk. With the traffic signal equipment is delayed due to Covid, the crosswalk will remain closed until March when we install the traffic signal system. During construction, one of the contractors commented that he had “never seen such a weird, staggered crosswalk...

Post heavy rain event clean-up

Posted on February 5, 2021

The heavy rain event the evening of January 26th kept the Streets Division staff busy. A six-man crew patrolled around the City throughout the night keeping watch for any issues. Fortunately, there were no major issues in the overnight hours but once daylight came, some issues came to light. Here you will see Streets Maintenance...

Fallen tree due to January high wind event

Posted on February 5, 2021

In the early morning hours of January 19th during the high wind event, on-call supervisor Omar Garcia responded to a call out from SRPD about a downed tree at the corner of Bahia Way and Kerner Blvd. With assistance from Parks staff member Jorge Hernandez, both staff members removed limbs from the Right of Way...

New Shop and Equipment Supervisor Garage Division

New Shop and Equipment Supervisor for the Garage Division

Posted on February 5, 2021

The Garage Division has a new Shop and Equipment Supervisor! Gerardo Paredes joined us on Feb. 1st and will now oversee vehicle maintenance. He comes to us from the City of Santa Rosa with a great amount experience and in the next month or so, he will be learning the ins and outs of the...

Streets Division assists with CalTrans viaduct clean up

Posted on February 5, 2021

DPW continues to assist Caltrans with weekly clean ups of the Caltrans viaduct area between 3rd and 4th St. Every Tuesday these areas are cleaned of all trash and debris from nearby encampments. To help maintain cleanliness of this area, the Parks and Streets Divisions have taken on this workload in addition to their normal...

Department of Public Works Twitter account

Posted on February 5, 2021

The Public Works Twitter account is a great resource for consistently updated information, helpful tips, and news regarding the City and surrounding areas and the Department of Public Works has been very active on Twitter (@SanRafaelDPW). Stay tuned for updates on ongoing projects, weather advisory information, spotlights on our crews, photos, and more!

San Rafael Traffic Signal Upgrade – Wednesday, 2/3/2021

Posted on February 2, 2021

Starting at 9 AM on Wednesday, February 3, the City's contractor, Econolite, will upgrade the firmware at each signalized intersection in the list below. The traffic signal will go into flash for about a cycle length (90 seconds) during the update. These updates will allow Public Works crews to better access the traffic signal network...

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement (Caltrans) night work during week of Feb. 1

Posted on January 29, 2021

Caltrans is getting ready to replace the 101 NB Central San Rafael exit (exit 452) off-ramp from the freeway to 2nd Street where it intersects with Irwin Street (also known as Harbor Bridge). Caltrans has determined the bridge is seismically obsolete, and plan to completely remove and replace the antiquated structure with a new bridge....

Guidelines finalized for new, semi-permanent outdoor dining areas on the street

Posted on January 29, 2021

Visit the COVID Temporary Outdoor Services: Dining, Retail & Salons Webpage Building off of the criteria developed last spring for temporary on-street dining areas, the City has finalized new guidelines for restaurants in San Rafael seeking to build semi-permanent outdoor dining areas in the parking lane to expand their COVID-friendly dining. The City received feedback...

Summer/Fall 2022 New Target Date for Dredging

Posted on January 25, 2021

On Tuesday, January 19th the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released its 2021 Work Plan for projects the Corps would execute during the FY 2021 cycle – including all dredging activities summer/fall 2021. San Rafael was not funded in this cycle for the dredging of its federal channel. Though the dredging target date has been delayed a...

Storm Advisory – January 25, 2021

Posted on January 25, 2021

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from January 26, 4 PM until January 28, 4 PM, and a High Wind Watch is in effect from January 26, 7 PM until January 27, 10 AM. A moderate "atmospheric river" will impact the region Tuesday through Thursday bringing prolonged periods of moderate to heavy rain along...

Touch-ups for the new Mayor’s office

Posted on January 22, 2021

As we welcome in the new Mayor, the facilities team has been busy making some minor repairs and putting some finishing touches on the new Mayor’s office. An electrical outlet was moved into the corner and here we see Facilities staff Anthoney Heaven running an internet Cat 5 cable over to the desk area is....

lighting installed Freitas Park Pedestrian Tunnel

New lighting installed at the Freitas Park Pedestrian Tunnel

Posted on January 22, 2021

Amid concerns about the lack of lighting in the Freitas Park Tunnel, the Facilities team got busy replacing the old bulbs inside the tunnel. They also installed a new photocontrol unit that helps provide more light along the darker parts of the tunnel throughout the day.

Completion is near for the San Rafael High School – Third Street crosswalk!

Posted on January 22, 2021

We are nearing completion on the new crosswalk in front of San Rafael High School. This week the contractor will be installing the fencing in the median and filling in the trenches. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shipment of the new traffic signal equipment is delayed so the crosswalk will not be able to open...

Sunny weather provides opportunity for red curb repainting

Posted on January 22, 2021

This week, members of the Streets Division were able to take advantage of the sunny weather and complete some much-needed repainting of red curbs that have faded over time. Here we see Streets Division staff Tyler Nord and Brendan Smith repainting and freshening up a stretch of red curb.

Field renovations and improvements at Albert Park

Posted on January 22, 2021

With a welcome break from the rains, the Parks Division took full advantage of the warm weather and have been busy with renovations to Alberts Field. This included removing all the bad soil, weeding, installing an underground drip irrigation system to improve water efficiency and laying down new sod as well as leveling the infield...

Pump replacement at storm water pump station

Posted on January 22, 2021

Recently, one of the pumps at our Piombo Storm Water pump station failed, requiring it to be removed and inspected. Upon inspection, the pump was determined to be obsolete and a new pump is needed. This pump is located south of the Public Works Corp yard along the Shoreline Path. It pumps water from a...

Sidewalk Repair Program work progresses through East San Rafael

Posted on January 22, 2021

Although the rainy season dictates when we can work, the Sidewalk Repair Program is nearing the final stretch of work in the East San Rafael area. We have been making great progress on Biscayne Drive and with more than a dozen properties signed up for the program in this area, the City will be contributing...

Second Street railroad crossing safety improvements

Posted on January 22, 2021

As part of the Francisco Blvd West Multi-use Pathway project, Francisco Blvd West between 2nd Street and Rice Drive was converted to a one-way southbound street. In doing so, the northbound right turn lane onto 2nd Street was eliminated as one measure to reduce the number of vehicles stopping on the railroad tracks. Additionally, the...

Honorary Dean Allison exit letter from Sophie Martinez

Posted on January 22, 2021

While I was not fortunate to have known Mr. Allison, I had heard of what he meant to the City as the Public Works Director. Enthusiastic. Dedicated. Dean Allison built strong relationships and cared immensely for both his employees and the public. Having the opportunity to learn about Public Works under his name as the...

Routine Tree Services – Request for Proposals (CLOSED)

Posted on January 12, 2021

The City of San Rafael hereby requests proposals for on-call tree services from a qualified tree maintenance business that is duly registered and licensed with either a C61-D49 or C27-D49 license in the State of California. Services shall include routine tree services as required by the Public Works Operations and Maintenance Manager at various City...

Previous Parking Services office gets a facelift

Posted on January 8, 2021

The Facilities team was asked to return the former Parking Services office to its original open space configuration. In order to accomplish this, three walls totaling over 40 ft. needed to be removed. Electrical switches were relocated from the wall that was removed and the wall area where the previous walls stood were also repaired. New ceiling...

Tamper proof safety covers installed downtown at Fourth St and D St.

Posted on January 8, 2021

Facilities team staff Omar Garcia and Anthoney Heaven disconnected four electrical outlets at the corners in the intersection of Fourth St and D St and installed tamper proof covers. This was done to prevent both unsafe tampering and unlawful loitering in the downtown area.

New striping for bike connection on Francisco Boulevard East at Grange Ave

Posted on January 8, 2021

Francisco Boulevard East is an important connection between the Richmond-San Rafael bridge and the Sir Francis Drake Flyover to Larkspur and is used by many bicyclists. The Richmond-San Rafael bridge is expected to reach their 100,000th bike rider in January! Together, the City of San Rafael, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and the Bay Area...

Third Street crosswalk at San Rafael High School project

Posted on January 8, 2021

Construction is moving along for the new signalized crossing on Third Street at San Rafael High School. The south (shopping center) side is complete and the driveway for the delivery trucks is open. The north (school) side is nearly complete. The last phase is the median, which the contractor broke ground on Tuesday January 5....

Citywide winter leaf clean up

Posted on January 8, 2021

Streets and Parks Division crews have made a concerted effort to pick up as much of the fallen leaves as possible along City streets. Sometimes it seems like a losing battle as it takes some time for the leaves to stop falling! Different types of equipment are used to aid workers such as rakes and...

New electric vehicle added to the Parking Enforcement fleet

Posted on January 8, 2021

Garage Division staff picked up a new electric vehicle that will be used as a Parking Enforcement buggy. We anticipate these vehicles will be more reliable and cost effective than the vehicles that have previously been used. Here you see mechanic Jay Arieta securing the vehicle for transport back to DPW to be retrofitted for...

Work to keep the City clean & safe

Posted on January 8, 2021

Along with assisting the Streets Division with storm preparation, the Parks Division continues with regular maintenance throughout the City. Here we see Parks Division Mechanic Jim O'Hagan painting over graffiti on a wall along the Puerto Suello bike path. Any type of derogatory or gang related graffiti is removed immediately as graffiti in this area...

Second Street and Irwin Street retaining wall rebuild

Posted on January 8, 2021

City contractor Maggiora and Ghilotti Inc. recently rebuilt the small timber lagged retaining wall on the Northwest corner of Second Street and Irwin Street that had been damaged. This small project took place over a period of three nights and the City will be reimbursed for the repair work. ...

Bridge demo has begun on the Southern Heights Bridge replacement project

Posted on January 8, 2021

On the week of Dec 28th, demolition work began on the existing Southern Heights Bridge. Most of the bridge deck has been removed and the remaining supportive structure will be demolished in the coming weeks, weather permitting.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moves forward with sediment testing and City receives 69 applicants for Umbrella Permitting process

Posted on January 8, 2021

Last week the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) brought their sediment testing plan for the San Rafael Channel to some of the regulatory agencies last week, the first key step in the dredging permitting process. Regulatory agencies involved in the dredging permitting process (yes – USACE needs a permit too!) include the DMMO (Dredge...

Progress on the Third Street – San Rafael High School crosswalk

Posted on December 11, 2020

The concrete has been poured on the south (Montecito Shopping Center) side of Third Street and the contractor is moving on to the north side of Third Street! The south side was the most complicated, given existing utilities for all the development on that side. Construction should go quicker on the north side and in...

Continued winter storm preparation with the help of sunny weather

Posted on December 11, 2020

The sunny weather has allowed DPW crews to catch up on winter prep. They have made a concerted effort recently to address the autumn/winter leaf fall as well as clearing out some of the major storm water outlets. In the photo you will see Streets Lead Worker Kenny Gatlin clearing cat tails from an outlet...

Park playgrounds to remain open

Posted on December 11, 2020

Playgrounds may remain open to facilitate physically distanced personal health and wellness through outdoor exercise. Playgrounds located on schools that remain open for in-person instruction, and not accessible by the general public, may remain open and must follow guidance for schools and school-based programs.

Pickleweed Park field restoration

Posted on December 11, 2020

Parks Division has been busy assisting the Streets Division with winter prep as well as handling many other projects. Along with trying to keep up with the autumn/winter leaf fall in the parks, they recently did some restoration work to the Pickleweed field. This included aerating, fertilizing, seeding, top dressing and dragging. In the photo...

Tree damaged roadway repair

Posted on December 11, 2020

Local City contractor Maggiora-Ghilotti repaired a section of roadway this week at the intersection of D St and 2nd St. A portion of the concrete roadway was buckled in multiple locations due to damage caused by large tree roots. This was causing multiple humps in the roadway and was a safety concern for vehicle control...

Jacoby Street Quiet Zone

Posted on December 11, 2020

The Jacoby Street rail crossing was not included in phase 1 or 2 of San Rafael’s Quiet Zone implementation because the crossing was a private crossing at the end of the line and by Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rules quiet zones cannot begin or end at a private crossing. The City asked SMART to close...

New lighting along the multi-use pathway between Andersen Drive and Rice Drive

Posted on December 11, 2020

Thanks to the combined efforts of Streamline Builders and DC Electric, lighting has been installed along the multi-use path between Andersen Drive and Rice Drive. These LED lights are mounted to the existing fence between the creek and the pathway and are set to illuminate automatically once the sun has gone down. ...

San Rafael applies for FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant for Fire Station 54

Posted on December 11, 2020

Last week Public Works submitted a major grant for the reconstruction of Fire Station 54 under FEMA’s new Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) Program. If successfully awarded funds through the BRIC grant program, the City would receive $4.1m in federal funds, with a $1.4m local match, for the $5.5m Fire Station reconstruction. The project qualifies...