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View of the intersection of second and fourth streets with a banner hanging across

Second and Fourth Street Intersection Improvements

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About

Project goals

  • Improve pedestrian and bicyclist experiences
  • Bring the intersection up to current design standards including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards
  • Maintain critical access to neighborhoods and downtown, and reasonable vehicular traffic flow for local and regional traffic
  • Improve the downtown gateway experience

Budget

Planning/Design $230,000
Construction $4,000,000 (~$3 Million Grant Funded)

Timeline

Design Completion & Bid 2024-2025
Construction 2025-2026

Overview

Fourth Street, also known as the “Miracle Mile” connects San Rafael to San Anselmo and all points west in Marin County. Through central San Rafael, Fourth Street is a retail shopping street but west of the downtown core, Fourth Street becomes a six-lane separated arterial street serving all of the commuters from West Marin who use the route to access Highway 101 as well as tourist traffic that traverses the stretch to reach West Marin and Point Reyes National Seashore and other coastal destinations.  The route serves nearly 20,000 vehicles per day and smooth traffic flow is essential to ensuring people can get to and from their destinations easily.

The corridor was built in the mid-20th century and has surpassed its useful life.  The traffic signals are outdated, pedestrian facilities do not meet the current ADA standards, and the facility is in need of major improvements to handle the multi-modal traffic using it each day.   The intersection of Fourth Street and Second Street is the City’s gateway from west Marin and serves local and regional transit buses for commuters and other users from and to West Marin County.

The existing intersection contains five separate traffic signal phases, legs, each of which requires time for vehicles and pedestrians to transit through it.  The main routes are also at a skewed angle which creates confusion for bicycles, pedestrians, and motorists through the intersection. This project would reconfigure the intersection, shortening the crossing distances and minimizing the number of crossings for pedestrians and bicycles. The five current legs would be reduced to four, shortening the wait times and improving throughout for all users here including public transit operations.  The project would also complete the Class IV bikeway connection from West Street to West End and the Greenfield Avenue bike facility, which is a critical connection listed as a top priority in the City’s Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan.

Other improvements include accessibility improvements, drainage, and the undergrounding of overhead electrical service.

Latest Concept Design

Posted August 2023map of 2nd and 4th street intersection showing new concept

Upcoming Meetings

Project Community Event:

What: Second and Fourth Street Intersection Improvement Project

When: Thursday, February 27th at 6:00pm

Where: San Rafael City Hall, Council Chambers (1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901)

Zoom Link: https://cityofsanrafael-org.zoom.us/j/86353282699

Join via audio: +1 669 444 9171 US

Webinar ID: 863 5328 2699

Construction Schedule

The daily construction schedule is still being determined. Updates for the project will be posted to the City’s website. Mailers and informational letters will be sent to residents impacted by the project ahead of construction.

Contractor

The contractor is still being selected for this project. Contact information will be provided on the project’s webpage ahead of the project construction start date.

Second and Fourth Street Intersection Improvements FAQs

Why is this project important?

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.

What is the current project status?

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 2025.

When will construction begin?

Project construction is anticipated to begin in 2025.

How will traffic be impacted during construction?

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 development 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.

Will West End Ave remain a two-way Street?

Yes, West End Ave will remain a two-way street. At the new signalized 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).

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