Public Works News - San Rafael

Caltrans 101 NB off ramp replacement detours for october closure

REMINDER: STARTING TOMORROW (10/22 – 10/25) – full weekend full off-ramp closure for NB US 101 Central San Rafael

Posted on October 21, 2021

REMINDER: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the second 55-hour weekend closure for the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. Due to weather conditions, the closure times have now changed. The closure will start on Friday, October 22 at 7 pm and reopen on Monday, October 25 at 5 am. Please note: these dates...

REMINDER: THIS WEEKEND (10/22 – 10/25) – full weekend full off-ramp closure for NB US 101 Central San Rafael

Posted on October 18, 2021

REMINDER: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the second 55-hour weekend closure for the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The closure will start on Friday, October 22 at 10 pm and reopen on Monday, October 25 at 5 am. Please note: these dates and times are subject to change. If you would like to learn...

Francisco Boulevard East Lane Closure May 2021 BKF

Francisco Blvd East Resurfacing Construction Commences

Posted on October 14, 2021

The long awaited resurfacing of Francisco Boulevard East from Grand Avenue to Vivian Street has commenced. The City’s contractor Ghilotti Construction Company started preparatory work for the Francisco Boulevard Resurfacing Project on Wednesday, October 13th and will be switching to nightwork on Monday, October 18th. The resurfacing of the roadway will take approximately two weeks...

Saturday, October 16 – Road closure on Mission Ave between Cottage Ave and Bryn Mawr Dr

Posted on October 13, 2021

On Saturday, October 16, Overaa Construction will be closing Mission Ave between Cottage Ave and Bryn Mawr Dr from 8 am to 1 pm. This weekend closure is to avoid disrupting children on a school day. During this time, Overaa Construction will be delivering materials for the Marin Aquatic Center development. Neighboring businesses and and residents...

REMINDER: Upcoming full weekend full off-ramp closure for NB US 101 Central San Rafael (10/22 – 10/25)

Posted on October 11, 2021

REMINDER: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the second 55-hour weekend closure for the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The closure will start on Friday, October 22 at 10 pm and reopen on Monday, October 25 at 5 am. Please note: these dates and times are subject to change. If you would like to...

Southern Heights Bridge replacement – Construction update

Posted on October 4, 2021

We’re approaching the tail end of the Southern Height Bridge Replacement construction project that started in December 2020. The primary bridge structure has been completed but several items of work remain including timber fencing, paving, bridge lighting, new road signage, and other items. As part of the project, several eucalyptus trees were cut to a...

Helping to keep park users safe – Installing park safety measures

Posted on October 4, 2021

In preparation for the upcoming Bunya tree pinecone growth, Facilities Department staff, Omar Garcia, Anthoney Heaven and Michael Rieser constructed temporary fencing around trees located at the Falkirk Cultural Center, Boyd Park and Gerstle Park. These fences will serve as a barrier to protect the public from the potential hazard of large falling pinecones.

Pickleweed Child Care building cover addition

Posted on October 4, 2021

San Rafael’s Pickleweed childcare buildings have areas between the units that are used for much needed secured storage and space for small activities. Up until now, these areas have been covered with suspended small tarp and this has not provided much protection from the elements, such as harsh sun and rain. The staff in the Facilities Department have set out to...

CPR and First Aid training for DPW and Sanitation District staff

Posted on October 4, 2021

The Fire Department assisted Public Works and Sanitation District maintenance staff with CPR and "Stop the Bleed" training in the past few weeks. In the photos, you see Facilities Maintenance workers Michael Rieser and Anthoney Heaven practicing CPR chest compressions and learning how to apply a tourniquet. We would like to thank the Fire Departments...

Pump station flap gate maintenance

Posted on October 4, 2021

The flap gates keep water from flowing back into the pump station during high tides. The salt water from the canal can cause corrosion and premature wear to pump station components so it is very important to keep it from flowing in. The City's 12 stormwater pump stations require frequent inspections to ensure they are...

Central-San-Rafael-Harbor-Bridge-map detours WB 580 and NB 101

REMINDER: Upcoming northbound US 101 Central San Rafael full weekend full off-ramp closure (10/22 – 10/25) and City Council meeting presentation TONIGHT (10/4)

Posted on October 4, 2021

REMINDER: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the second 55-hour weekend closure for the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The closure will start on Friday, October 22 at 10 pm and reopen on Monday, October 25 at 5 am.* During this closure, Caltrans will be constructing the approach slabs for the...

Bid Results for the City of San Rafael Replacement of Fire Stations 54 & 55 Project (re-bid)

Posted on October 1, 2021

On Thursday, September 30 at 2 pm, the City of San Rafael read aloud bids for the Fire Stations 54 and 55 Replacement project. A total of six bids were received from firms. Please see document below for the lowest three bids received: Bid Results for Replacement of Fire Stations 54 & 55 Project (re-bid)

5623 LL Pt San Pedro Overlay TCP Overview, Detour

Pt. San Pedro & Loch Lomond-Lochinvar Resurfacing – 9/30 and 10/1

Posted on September 30, 2021

On Thursday, September 30, and Friday, October 1, from 7 am to 4 pm, Ghilotti Construction Company, the contractor for the Loch Lomond development, will resurface the Point San Pedro Road & Loch Lomond-Lochinvar intersection. Point San Pedro Road will go down to one lane in each direction and the intersection will be in red...

Northbound US 101 Central San Rafael full off-ramp closure – 9/29 – 9/30

Posted on September 28, 2021

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be fully closing the 101 NB Central San Rafael off-ramp for the 101 NB Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The closure schedule is: Wednesday, September 29 from 9 pm to Thursday, September 30 at 9 am; and Thursday, September 30 at 9 pm to Friday, October 1 at 9 am...

Extensive Roadside Vegetation Clearance to begin October 11

Posted on September 28, 2021

Starting October 11, the City's contractor, West Coast Arborists, Inc., will be performing extensive roadside clearance in the West End and Gerstle Park neighborhood. Towards the end of October and beginning of November, the contractor will move on to the Bret Harte, Picnic Valley and Fairhills neighborhoods. The vegetation work will include work alongside and...

Fire Stations 54 & 55 is out to bid!

Posted on September 23, 2021

We are excited to announce that Fire Stations 54 & 55 Renovation Project is out to bid! For the last three weeks, Public Works has been working with potential bidders in preparation for the bid and are eager to receive proposals on September 30, 2021. The project scope for both stations includes removal and replacement of...

September 27 road closures for asphalt repairs

Posted on September 22, 2021

On September 27, 2021, Pacific Gas and Electric Company's sub-contractor, WK McLellan, will closing the following roads on 9-27-21 to repair sections of asphalt: 102 Coleman Drive - road will be closed from 10 am to 1 pm 120 Miramar Ave - road will be closed from 12 pm to 5 pm Detours will be...

Northbound US 101 Central San Rafael full weekend full off-ramp closure – 10/22 – 10/25 and City Council meeting

Posted on September 21, 2021

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the second 55-hour weekend closure for the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The closure will start on Friday, October 22 at 10 pm and reopen on Monday, October 25 at 5 am.* During this closure Caltrans will be constructing the approach slabs for...

Northbound US 101 Central San Rafael weekend off-ramp closure

Posted on September 20, 2021

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the second of three 55-hour weekend closures for the 101NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The second closure will start on Friday October 22nd at 10pm and reopen on Monday October 25th at 5am. During this closure Caltrans will be constructing the approach slabs for...

Francisco Blvd East resurfacing project

Posted on September 20, 2021

On Monday September 20th, the City Council approved the award of the Francisco Blvd East Resurfacing project to Ghilotti Construction Company, Inc. who was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. Construction is anticipated to begin in Mid-October 2021 and is expected to have a duration of 15 working days. This project is...

B Street culvert repair project

Posted on September 20, 2021

The objective of the B Street Culvert Repair project is to remove the existing concrete box culvert and replace with a new cast-in-place concrete box culvert. A small section of the box culvert will be reconstructed near the intersection of B Street and Woodland Avenue. The City hired the design consultant, Mark Thomas & Company, Inc., to...

Essential Facilities – Fire Station 54 & 55 Renovation – Out to bid!

Posted on September 20, 2021

Contact: Faby Guillen-Urfer / Sr. Project Manager – Public Works We are excited to announce that Fire Stations 54 & 55 Renovation Project is out to bid!! For the last three weeks, we have been working with potential bidders in preparation for the bid and are eager to receive proposals on September 30, 2021. The project scope at both stations includes removal and replacement of the original living quarters; seismic upgrades to the existing...

Keeping City vehicles in compliance and operating

Posted on September 20, 2021

Regular maintenance of City vehicles helps to keep them in good working condition and saves time as well as money. Basic Inspection of Terminal (BIT) is required by the State of California to be completed every 90 days. The inspection entails in checking the brake adjustment, brake system components, oil leaks, steering and suspension systems,...

September 20 – 24 full off-ramp closure – US-101 Northbound Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement (Caltrans)

Posted on September 20, 2021

Starting Monday, September 20th at 9 pm to Friday, September 24th at 9 am, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be closing the full Highway 101 Northbound Central San Rafael off-ramp to conduct pre-cast and concrete pour for the new off-ramp bridge. The full off-ramp will be closed at the following times: Monday, September 20...

Bungalow Ave and Woodland Ave resurfacing project update

Posted on September 13, 2021

On Monday September 13th, the City Council approved the award of the Bungalow and Woodland Avenue Resurfacing project to Ghilotti Bros, Inc. who was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. Construction is anticipated to begin in October 2021 and is expected to have a duration of 40 working days. The pavement resurfacing...

Yearly drainage basin dredging work

Posted on September 13, 2021

Streets Division staff started its yearly dredging of drainage basins throughout the City. This involves a crane and clamming bucket that removes sediment, debris flows, trash, and vegetation in the larger drainages in the City. In the photos you will see City staff along with a crane contractor removing sediment from the retention pond at...

Traffic signal louvers

Posted on September 13, 2021

Signal head visibility is important so that motorists can travel through an intersection safely. Often, we are trimming branches back, so motorists have full visibility of traffic signal heads. However, there are situations where we don’t want a signal head to be visible until a motorist gets closer to the intersection. Louvers were added for...

San Rafael is the first city to use the Smart Fiber for signal communications

Posted on September 13, 2021

A fiber optic network provides a solid communication foundation for all future technologies to thrive. Currently, there’s no technology that can transport data faster than fiber optic. Okay, maybe a car full of hard drives. A smart vehicle may ask the city infrastructure for information to help it make decisions. This requires massive amount of...

September 13 to September 14 Night work – 1337 4th St

Posted on September 9, 2021

From September 13 at 8 pm to September 14 at 7 am, Veteran Power Infrastructure (VPI) will be performing night work along 4th Street by D St to finish underground utility work. Traffic controls will be in place. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and follow all posted directional signals. For any questions and...

September 13 – 16 – AC Marriott Hotel street closure

Posted on September 9, 2021

From Monday, September 13 to Thursday, September 16, Fifth Avenue between B Street and C Street between 7am – 5 pm. CSI Construction will be preforming construction related to the AC Marriott Hotel project Road closures and detours will be in place. Please follow all directional signs and plan ahead for your commute. For questions...

340 Third St - Ghilotti construction work area

September 13 to 14 – 340 3rd St Construction

Posted on September 9, 2021

On Monday, September 13 from 4 - 7 am, Ghilotti Construction Company (GCC), will be excavating existing driveway to Whole Foods along Third St and will be installing new sidewalk frames/conforms. On Tuesday, September 14 from 6:30 - 7 am, GCC will be pouring concrete for sidewalks. During construction, sidewalks will be closed. Detours will...

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

September nighttime closures – 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement (Caltrans)

Posted on September 8, 2021

Starting Monday, September 13th at 9 pm to September 14th at 7 am, as well as, Thursday, September 16th at 9 pm to Friday. September 17th at 7 am, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be closing the Highway 101 Northbound Central San Rafael off-ramp to conduct pre-cast and concrete pour for the new...

AC Marriott Hotel – Street Closure

Posted on September 2, 2021

On Friday, September 3 and Tuesday, September 7 to Friday, September 10 from 9 am to 3 pm, Fifth Avenue between B Street and C Street will be closed. The AC Marriott Hotel construction project is closing this part of roadway so the project contractor, CSI Construction Company, can safely saw cut and trench for...

September 7 to September 8 Night work – 1337 4th St

Posted on September 2, 2021

From September 7 at 8 PM to September 8 at 7 AM, Veteran Power Infrastructure (VPI) will be performing night work along 4th Street by D St to install a new electrical line for PG&E. Only one lane will be closed at a time so vehicles traversing will still be able to drive through 4th...

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

Posted on September 1, 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...

August 29 to September 10 nightwork – 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement (Caltrans)

Posted on August 31, 2021

From Sunday, August 29 to Friday, September 10 between midnight to 6 am, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform construction work on the 101 Northbound Central San Rafael off-ramp bridge replacement project. The work involves demolishing the existing off-ramp bridge and residents may temporarily experience increased noise levels during this operation. Caltrans will...

Tuesday, August 31 MMWD emergency water leak repair

Posted on August 31, 2021

The Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) will be performing emergency leak repair work near the intersection of Ross Valley Drive and 4th Street today. The work is expected to be contained in the median area and not impact travel lanes. Please be mindful of crews in the area and drive with caution. MMWD is working...

Tree work starting Monday, August 30

Posted on August 27, 2021

Starting Monday, August 30, Wilhelm LLC will be performing tree work along PG&E powerlines at the locations listed below. Work will commence at 9 a.m. 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 of locations: Mission...

August 19 tree work on Hillside Ave

Posted on August 16, 2021

On Thursday, August 19 from 7:30 am - 4 pm., the City's contractor, the Professional Tree Care Company, will be removing two trees on Hillside Ave. These trees are leaning into road way, thus they need to be removed to meet right-of-way standards. Detours will be in place. Please follow all detours and temporary traffic...

Streamlining the PG&E permit application process

Posted on August 16, 2021

The City of San Rafael, Department of Public Works and Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) have worked together to create a more streamlined process for PG&E permit applications. The City of San Rafael granted a Programmatic Encroachment Permit to PG&E to perform routine maintenance, operations and wildfire mitigation work in City rights-of-way. The permit...

Southern Heights Blvd Bridge replacement project update

Posted on August 16, 2021

Recent work on the Southern Heights Bridge project has focused on the bridge railing. The City has been coordinating with PG&E for the installation of bridge lighting consisting of 13 LED lights that will be mounted along the middle of the railing. Several items of work remain including the construction of the approach slabs, paving,...

Sprucing up along Manuel T. Freitas Parkway

Posted on August 16, 2021

Vegetation that encroaches on walkways can pose hazards as they can force pedestrians to step into the street in order to avoid scrapes or scratches or it can cause a potential tripping hazard. Parks staff Rene Ramos, Alfredo Tellez and Alex Nacaspaca are shown here clearing and cleaning up the sidewalk area along Manuel T...

Downtown library parking lot receives a paint facelift

Posted on August 16, 2021

There’s just something about fresh paint that makes a parking lot look like new. A well-marked parking lot makes it safer for those visiting the library as well as it shows patrons where to park. Members of the Paint and Signs crew added some bike racks and refreshed the striping in the parking lot. The...

Scheduled night work - Chevron 949 Del Presidio from August 16 - August 31

Scheduled night work – Chevron (949 Del Presidio Blvd) from August 16 – August 31

Posted on August 12, 2021

From August 16 to August 31, the Chevron development located at 949 Del Presidio Blvd has night work scheduled for week nights (Monday to Friday) between from 7 pm to 5 am. The contractor, Alccon General, will be performing utility trenching and frontage improvements along Del Presidio Blvd and Manuel T Freitas Parkway. Traffic controls...

City of San Rafael no longer accepting Outdoor Dining Permit applications

Posted on August 12, 2021

As of August 9, 2021, the City of San Rafael is no longer accepting outdoor dining permit applications . This pilot program allowed businesses to apply for free, temporary permits to use the sidewalk or parking lane for business operations, such as seating, dining, or personal care services. Current approved permits will not be affected....

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement (Caltrans) 8/13 Nighttime closure (UPDATED SCHEDULE)

Posted on August 11, 2021

On Friday, August 13th, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be closing the Highway 101 Northbound Central San Rafael off-ramp at night. The proposed schedule has been updated and the off-ramp will now be fully closed from Friday, August 13 at 9:00PM until 9:00AM the following morning. Caltrans is planning on returning the off-ramp to regular...

Woodland avenue between B St and Woodland Place

San Rafael Sanitation District – August 2021 Scheduled Work for Woodland Ave project

Posted on August 6, 2021

The San Rafael Sanitation District are scheduled to work on their Woodland Avenue Sewer Improvement project. The work is scheduled for the following Saturday's: August 7, August 14, and August 21 from 7 am to 5 pm. Work on the weekend is to ensure that the project will be completed in a timely manner. The...

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement_Caltrans August 13 Nighttime closure

101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement (Caltrans) 8/13 Nighttime closure

Posted on August 3, 2021

On Friday, August 13th, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be closing the Highway 101 Northbound Central San Rafael off-ramp at night. The schedule has been changed. The proposed schedule has been updated and the off-ramp will now be fully closed from Friday, August 13 at 9:00PM until 9:00AM the following morning. Caltrans is...

AT&T Emergency Night Work – Monday, August 2, 2021

Posted on August 2, 2021

Tonight, Monday, August 2, AT&T has scheduled emergency night work along 3rd Street near Lincoln Ave. The area is currently out of service. AT&T plans to work until midnight or until the issue is resolved. Traffic controls will be in place. Please drive with caution and follow all posted directional signals. For any questions or...

Fourth Street changes

Posted on August 2, 2021

Fourth Street has a different use than Second and Third Streets. Fourth Street is our commercial corridor, filled with retail, restaurants, and services. As a result, pedestrian volumes are higher on this street than Second and Third Streets. On Thursdays and Fridays, residents and visitors have been enjoying Dining Under the Lights. In June, we...

New timing changes for traffic signals in Central San Rafael

Posted on August 2, 2021

The Traffic Engineering division has been busy timing, observing, and re-timing the traffic signals in Central San Rafael. First, was Third Street. Third Street has its challenges, from a troublesome signal controller at Lootens Place to a short-protected left-turn phase at A Street. After troubleshooting and making changes to offsets, travel time has not decreased...

New traffic signal at Lucas Valley Rd. and Los Gamos Rd.

Posted on August 2, 2021

On Tuesday, July 20th, 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...

Cleanup of Freitas Ditch

Posted on August 2, 2021

Streets division staff recently conducted a cleanup of the ditch located on Freitas Parkway. Pictured in the photo is Streets staff member, Kenny Gatlin, using an excavator to remove the build up from the ditch.

Improving pedestrian crossing visibility and safety

Posted on August 2, 2021

Here the Streets division staff added ladders to an existing crosswalk to make it more visible for drivers and pedestrians. They also added All Way Stop Sign placards to the stop sign poles. Streets division staff also added ladders to D Street and Via Sessi to increase visibility of the crosswalk. Members of the Streets...

Vegetation pruning continuing along the Terra Linda medians

Posted on August 2, 2021

Parks division staff have been busy working on pruning medians. In these photos they are cutting back the shrubs along the Devon Drive median. Pictured below are Camilo Bayot and Rene Ramos pruning the medians:

New leaf vacuum for sidewalk debris

Posted on August 2, 2021

The Department of Public Works recently acquired a new 2021 Xtreme Leaf Vacuum for our Maintenance divisions. The leaf vacuum is a versatile tool that can be used to aid in picking up dried grass clippings, leaves or dirt from sidewalks and parks quickly and effectively. The leaf vacuum will mainly be used for picking...

Spinnaker Point parking modification project

Posted on August 2, 2021

The objective of the Spinnaker Point Parking Modification project is to create additional parking in a high demand area of East San Rafael. Parking will be added by converting the on-street parallel parking into angled parking along the north side of Spinnaker Point Drive, next to the Albert J. Boro Community Center. At the August...

Crossing Guards are Needed for the New School Year!

Posted on August 2, 2021

Join the team of crossing guards in Marin County and protect the safety of our children as they bike and walk to and from school. Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) is working with the Crossing Guard management firm, All City Management Services, to hire dedicated individuals to take part in this critical public safety role....

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...

101 580 direct connector tam project - looking north

July 6, 2021 Council meeting presentation recap – NB US-101 to EB I-580 Direct Connector (TAM)

Posted on July 7, 2021

On the July 6, 2021 City Council meeting, City staff, the City's consultant, Barry Miller, and the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) presented a presentation of the potential guiding principles representing San Rafael's interests in the TAM study of alternative alignments for the Northbound US-101 to Eastbound I-580 Direct Connector project. Currently, drivers who wish...

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 – 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,...