Purpose of the Project
The purpose of the project is to do the following:
- Improve regional connectivity between northbound US Route 101 (US 101) and eastbound Interstate 580 (I-580).
- Improve traffic operations on local streets and freeway segments.
- Enhance the active transportation (bicycle and pedestrian) network and improve bicycle and pedestrian safety within the community.
- Improve transit access and travel times.
- Support economic prosperity by providing better and more reliable access to local businesses.
- Improve community cohesion by enhancing local connectivity to work, school and businesses for disadvantaged communities near the project area.
Need for the Project
The following describes the existing and future deficiencies that establish the need for the improvements contemplated under the proposed Project:
Lack of Connectivity
The existing I-580/US 101 interchange has no direct connection between northbound (NB) US 101 and eastbound (EB) I-580. Instead, regional and pass-through traffic must use East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or Bellam Boulevard to travel between NB US 101 and EB I-580. Travel degrades operations on northbound US 101 and eastbound I-580 during weekday peak periods. Similarly, west and southbound trips on weekends causes congestion during weekend peak periods during the afternoon and evening hours.
Deficient Traffic Operations
Because a freeway-to-freeway direct connection doesn’t exist within the project area, freeway traffic must continue onto surface streets, thus mixing regional pass-through traffic with local traffic. The current congestion backs up through San Rafael, blocking access to businesses, neighborhoods, and contributing to NB US 101 back up.
Limited Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
Bicycles and pedestrians traveling to and from the Canal and East San Rafael neighborhoods must navigate through busy stretches of Bellam Boulevard, Francisco Boulevard East and Andersen Drive (north of Bellam Boulevard) which lack protected bicycle lanes and have narrow sidewalks in some locations. Although, popular bicycle and pedestrian pathways exist on the fringes of the Canal neighborhood, such as the Bay Trail and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) trail that utilizes Cal Park Hill tunnel, these pathways lack connections to the local area to build a robust bicycle and pedestrian network. The lack of active transportation accommodations and connections to existing facilities discourages the use of the transit network and trail systems that are nearby.
Absent Transit Links
Multi-modal connections in the project area have been improved over the years but the area is still lacking a fully integrated system. The closest transit connections are local and regional bus routes that serve San Rafael and reach as far as downtown San Francisco through Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit.