San Rafael advances Grand Avenue cyclist, pedestrian project

A key bicycle and pedestrian link in central San Rafael is moving forward.

The Grand Avenue cycle track project will create a two-way protected bike lane and widened sidewalk on the east side of Grand Avenue between Second and Fourth streets.

The City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 21 to award the $1.4 million construction contract to Ghilotti Bros. Inc., and allocate $217,000 in contingency funds. The contract was part of the consent calendar and approved with no discussion.

“The Grand Avenue cycle track serves as a critical connection for residents and visitors of East San Rafael to and from the downtown business district and San Rafael Transit Center,” said April Miller, director of public works.

Miller said the new path directly links to the bicycle and pedestrian bridge on Grand Avenue, which was completed in 2019 after nearly a decade of planning. It will provide a continuous link from the Canal area through Francisco Boulevard East, which underwent a sidewalk widening completed in 2022.

The project improvements will include upgrades to traffic signals, curb ramps, landscaping and road resurfacing.

Construction is expected to begin in September and last three to four months, pending weather and coordination with utilities, Miller said.

The public works staff is developing a traffic control plan with the contractor for the construction period, she said.

The project is among several Canal neighborhood connectors identified in the city’s 2018 bicycle and pedestrian master plan.

Over the years, the city has secured a number of grants to push the plan to realization. Funding includes $240,000 from the Association of Bay Area Governments, $335,000 from the Transportation Authority of Marin and another $656,000 awarded by the California Transportation Commission.

The remainder is paid for with the city’s gas tax funding, according to staff.

The city is also pursuing other bicycle projects in the area to expand the network, Miller said.

The future extension of the Bay Trail along Third Street beginning on Grand Avenue and a proposed east-west bikeway down Fourth Street would also connect to the project.

Warren Wells, policy director for the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, called the project an “important step” to creating better access in and out of the Canal neighborhood.

“It is a good, safe, and separated all-ages connection,” Wells said.

“And it highlights the need for improvements to that last connection on Fourth Street,” Wells said of the east-west bikeway. “We’re excited to see this project moving forward.”