San Rafael, CA – The Mill Valley-Sausalito Multiuse Pathway conveniently connects two of southern Marin’s cities, providing nonmotorized opportunities for the community to experience the outdoors and access neighborhoods, schools, shops, sports playing fields and a dog park. The 3.8-mile path, which skirts Bothin Marsh Preserve and features stellar views of the bay, will undergo approximately $565,000 of improvements in a coordinated effort between Marin County Parks (Parks) and Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW).
Built in the early 1980s, the Mill Valley-Sausalito Multiuse Pathway will be under construction from June 19 through November.
The planned work, conducted in two phases, will address 1.6 miles of the pathway built in the early 1980s. The first phase will focus on the 0.7-mile section from East Blithedale Avenue to Vasco Court. Construction will be handled by Grade Tec and is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 19, and conclude in mid-July. This phase carries a price of $224,775 and is funded through a State Transportation Development Act grant and Parks Measure A funding.
The pathway along this section will be widened to meet the preferred statewide bicycle standards, making it 10 feet wide plus two-foot shoulders along each side. These upgrades will significantly increase pedestrian and cyclist safety for the primary users of this section: elementary and middle school students, and nearby residents.
Starting June 19, Phase 1’s section of pathway is anticipated to be closed to all traffic for three weeks. The closure is being timed in conjunction with a pump station replacement project by the Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin (SASM), located near the path at Lomita Drive and Ashford Avenue. DPW, Parks, SASM and the City of Mill Valley have been coordinating for months to minimize detour impacts. Signage will be displayed along the path to define the detour and guide the public.
Phase 2 of pathway improvements will address the 0.9-mile stretch from East Blithedale Avenue to Almonte Boulevard. This section is heavily used by commuters as well as being a popular recreational route for the community. This portion of the path already meets the preferred statewide bicycle standards but the pavement and shoulders are in need of repair. The rehabilitation of the pathway will improve several sections of rough, uneven and damaged paving, thereby increasing the overall user experience of scenic path.
The estimated cost of the Phase 2 rehabilitation work is $340,000, which is funded by a Federal Priority Conservation Area grant and matching Measure A funds. While a contractor has yet to be determined, the work is anticipated to start in early September and finish in November.
A September start date is the earliest that construction can begin to ensure that it does not impact the nesting season of the Ridgway’s Rail. The endangered bird was formerly abundant throughout San Francisco Bay and coastal estuaries, but is now restricted mainly to isolated marsh fragments in the urbanized San Francisco Bay Area.
The environmental preservation of Bothin Marsh, which is home to a vital and biologically diverse ecosystem ranging from rare plants to peregrine falcons, has played a crucial role in the project’s planning. DPW and Parks have been working closely with specialists to take every possible precaution to ensure that the marshland and wildlife are not impacted by the project. Building on this process, Parks soon will initiate work with the community to develop a plan for Bothin Marsh that will address sections of the path and marsh south of the current paving project. This vision would work to safeguard both the wildlife habitat and pathway and enable them to adapt to expected sea-level rise in the region.
“We all look forward to the long-awaited repaving of these two segments of the Mill Valley-Sausalito Multiuse Pathway, our county’s most heavily visited park facility,” said Marin County District 3 Supervisor Kate Sears. “All users – students, older adults from the Redwoods, cyclists, dog walkers and people out for a scenic stroll – will note changes, especially in heavily trafficked areas, that will help everyone enjoy the path safely.”