East San Rafael Parking Community Updates
East San Rafael's densely populated neighborhoods and high parking demands, make parking a daily challenge. The City of San Rafael is committed to working with residents and businesses to ease the burden of daily parking and find solutions that work for all of the East San Rafael community.
On This Page
Current Projects
Bahia Vista Elementary Overnight Parking Pilot
In partnership with Bahia Vista Elementary School, the City is piloting a two month overnight parking pilot program to address the parking issue in the Canal. This is a pilot program, and continuing will depend on its success.
Where: Bahia Vista Elementary Parking Lot
When: June 15 - August 15, 2023
Cost: June 15 - 30: $20 | July 1- 31: $40 | August 1 - 15: $20
Sign up: Sign up at our parking offices; Monday and Friday, 10 am - 5 pm at Al Boro Center Tuesday - Thursday, 9am - 5 pm at City Hall
For more information, contact the Parking Department at (415)458-5333 or jim.myhers@cityofsanrafael.org.
Download the flyer here for more information.
This project is ending on August 15th.
Project for "T"s and "L"s
| The City could identify and stripe on-street parking spaces that could benefit from the introduction of street markings (i.e. “T”s and “L”s) to discourage inefficient parking behavior was schedule to be done for the summer. However due to delay in scheduling from the contractors, it is set to begin in the fall. |
East San Rafael Parking Taskforce
The East San Rafael Parking Taskforce is comprised of community stakeholders and supported by City staff to formulate solutions to the lack of accessible parking in East San Rafael. The taskforce has already convened in 2022 and have identified several short and long term solutions to parking, including the introduction of street markings, traffic lane modifications, potential sites for dedicated parking, and collaborating with local business owners to provide parking spaces during non business hours. Read the September 2022 progress report for more information on the East San Rafael Parking Task Force updates.
Timeline of Events
In 2016, the City Council supported a 6-month study to evaluate existing East San Rafael parking conditions and better prepare parking solutions the City could implement. The study showed parking occupancy rates to be well over 100%, meaning some cars were not parking according to parking regulations. During the study, the City worked closely with residents and businesses compiling feedback and suggestions on possible parking solutions. The study identified both short, medium, and long-term solutions – classified based on their time and ease to implement.
Measure Updates from the Task Force
Measure |
Description |
Status |
| 1 | a. Consider a pilot project to gate Windward Way, increase lighting, provide security, and consider collecting a fee for residents to park overnight in this area. | In Progress |
| b. Consider partnership with the County Health and Human Services to avail parking for afterhours parking. | Pending More Information | |
| c. Contact property owners with suitable off-street parking lots (e.g. Cardenas, Clinics, etc.) that were identified during the Task Force meetings to discuss potential shared parking agreements during evenings when businesses are closed. | Pending More Information | |
| 2 | Explore opportunities to add parking on City-owned land and/or modify parking configurations. An active project under construction will reconfigure the parking to gain more on-street and off-street parking in the area. | Complete Spinnaker Point Parking Modifications |
| 3 | Remove the four-hour time limit restrictions in on-street spaces identified during the Task Force meetings in the Commercial zone on Saturdays and Sundays so that long-term parkers (e.g. local residents) may use those spaces while many businesses are closed and current parking occupancy rates are low. | Complete |
| 4 | Parking experience could be realized as a result of walkabilty improvements such as traffic calming, crossing, and lighting identified in the June 2022 Canal Neighborhood Community-Based Transportation plan. There is a pending Adaptive Transportation Program grant application for a number of these measures. | In Progress |
| 5 | The City could identify and stripe on-street parking spaces that could benefit from the introduction of street markings (i.e. “T”s and “L”s) to discourage inefficient parking behavior. This would also require enforcement by Parking Services or the Police Department. | In Progress |
| 6 | Consider expanding the hours of targeted parking enforcement to include early mornings and/or evenings to prevent illegal parking that can cause access and safety issues (e.g. red-curb parking, curb ramps, crosswalks etc.) | Pending More Information |
| 7 | Educate the public regarding the informal permitting of parallel parking in front of single-family residence driveways by authorized motorists (e.g. residents or guests of the home). Develop appropriate graphics showing proper parking protocols and prohibited behaviors (e.g. parking perpendicular to the curb, blocking the sidewalk). | Ongoing |
Parking Guidelines
As part of the short-term strategy identified in the study, the City has implemented time-limited parking throughout East San Rafael. Time limits will be enforced in the following areas (see map for zone boundaries):
- Residential zones (24-hour limits): Canal, Bahia, and Spinnaker & Baypoint neighborhoods
- Commercial zones (4-hour limits from 8AM to 6PM;): Commercial and Kerner neighborhoods
- All new parking restrictions will be enforced 7 days a week, including weekends.
For all inquiries and or feedback please see our FAQs, or contact:
- Public Works, (415) 485-3355, for sign installation and placement inquiries;
- Parking Services, (415) 458-5333, for parking enforcement and a map of the affected blocks.
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