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

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

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

The project team will be working towards 95% construction documents and anticipates design completion and bidding the project in 2024.

Project construction is anticipated to begin in 2025.

To minimize impacts to the community, City staff will coordinate with the project contractor to ensure bicyclist and pedestrian access and traffic flow are considered during the develop of the project construction schedule and traffic control plan. Advanced noticing and robust communication will occur prior to the implementation of the traffic control plan, and a project contact will be designated and made available to assist with any inquiries on the project.

Design and construction of the proposed traffic signal for West Crescent and Fourth St intersection is/will be a part of the Second St and Fourth St intersection project. Construction of the traffic signal at West Crescent Dr and Fourth St is anticipated to begin in 2025.

Yes, West End Ave will remain a two-way street. At the proposed project intersection, vehicles from Second St and Marquard Ave can enter West End Ave (westbound) and vehicles from West End Ave (eastbound) can make a right turn only onto Marquard Ave. Vehicles on West End Ave can access Second St through the signalized intersection at Greenfield Ave and Fourth St.  

Advanced signage will be installed along Greenfield Ave to direct vehicles to Fourth St for access to Second St towards Downtown San Rafael. Striping improvements are being implemented at the intersection of West End Ave and Greenfield Ave to improve access from West End Ave to Fourth St. Traffic signal timing adjustments have been made and will continue to be monitored to improve access from Greenfield Ave to Fourth St (especially for the eastbound direction). 

Yes, vehicles on Second St (westbound) can make a left turn onto Marquard Ave at the proposed project intersection. Vehicles from Fourth St can access Marquard Ave from the intersection of West End Ave and Greenfield Ave, travel eastbound on West End Ave and make a right turn onto Marquard Ave. At the proposed project intersection, vehicles from Marquard can also make a left turn onto West End Ave (westbound) or make a right turn into a slip lane that then merges into Second St (eastbound).