San Rafael’s downtown corridor construction extended 2 months

After 18 months of work, construction for the multimillion-dollar overhaul of Second and Third streets in downtown San Rafael has been extended through November.

April Miller, director of public works, said the two-month extension allowed the city to accommodate other utility and private projects along the corridor. Crews are gearing up for the final road paving, which will be performed overnight beginning Sept. 25.

“Overnight construction for paving operations allows the contractor to close multiple lanes on Third and Second street simultaneously, allowing for a quicker timeline and a better final product,” Miller said.

“This project has been a thoughtful and dynamic collaboration between numerous stakeholders,” Miller said. “The complexity of stakeholder projects and the collaboration between everyone involved is truly something to be proud of.”

Project planning began about six years ago. The work is a revamp of Third Street between Union and Second streets and along Second Street between West and Shaver streets.

In addition to repaving, the project includes new traffic signals, new streetscaping and extended sidewalks near intersections to improve safety for pedestrians. The project also includes a two-way bike lane separated from the road by a barrier along the south side of Second Street between West and Shaver streets.

The original cost estimate for the project was $13.9 million. The cost increased to more than $20 million after the city got the San Rafael Sanitation District and the Marin Municipal Water District to upgrade sewer and water lines as part of the overhaul.

Otherwise, the city would have had to wait for those projects to be completed before it could do the road revamp, potentially creating even more delays and complications, staff said.

In February 2022, the City Council agreed to hire Ghilotti Bros. Inc. on a $20.8 million, 18-month construction contract, which included a $2.5 million contingency. At the same time, the council agreed to a $1.04 million contract for CSW/Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group Inc. for engineering support.

Construction began in March 2022. Miller said the project is expected to finish within budget.

In addition to working with the sewer and water agencies, the city coordinated with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The city also received a request from Sonic Fiber Internet after construction had already begun to install underground infrastructure for its future network on Third Street, Miller said.

Planners also coordinated with the construction of the Vivalon campus at 999 Third St. Vivalon, formerly known as Whistlestop, began construction of its $55.9 million senior services campus and affordable housing complex in May 2022.

“The communication between the city of San Rafael and Vivalon is well-coordinated,” said Anne Grey, chief executive officer of Vivalon, a nonprofit serving Marin seniors. “The timing to complete this project before the opening of Vivalon’s new Healthy Aging Campus in January 2024 is really appreciated.”

San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin said she thanks Miller and retired public works director Bill Guerin for navigating the city through the project planning and construction over the past six years.

“The Third Street rehabilitation project is one of the biggest infrastructure projects San Rafael has seen in recent history,” Colin said. “At over $20 million, it is a big investment to improving car circulation, as well as pedestrian and bike safety in the area. These improvements will benefit our community for decades to come.”

Advocates for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure agree.

“MCBC looks forward to the completion of the project, which will greatly increase connectivity and safety for people walking and biking in San Rafael,” said Warren Wells, policy and planning director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

The overnight work is expected to last three weeks, weather permitting, Miller said. After that, crews will work on road striping, installing street trees and tying up any unfinished components of the project.

Weekly construction updates are posted to cityofsanrafael.org.

Meanwhile, several secondary projects connected to the overhaul are also in the works.

The city has been converting the one-way section of B Street between Fifth Avenue and Second Street to accommodate two-way traffic. The project was designed with collaboration among public works, police and fire officials.

Officials said two-way traffic will improve emergency response times. The change is also expected to slow drivers down, decreasing the number of collisions and increasing overall safety.

Signal work has already begun and the striping for the conversion will be completed along with the Third Street striping. The cost is primarily covered by the Third Street contract.

The $1.4 million Grand Avenue cycle track between Second and Fourth streets is another offshoot of the Third Street overhaul. Construction is getting underway and is expected to last three to four months.

In the West End, San Rafael planners are in the design and environmental review phase of the $4 million safety improvement project along the city’s Miracle Mile. The project will reconfigure the streets at Second and Fourth street intersection to make it easier to navigate, Miller said. This includes shortened crossing distances for bicyclist and pedestrians and removing the slip lane from Fourth Street onto westbound Second Street.

The connection of the class IV bike lane from the Third Street overhaul to the West End is also part of the project.