San Rafael, CA – Ever travel on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard between Highway 101 and the Ross town limit? Improvements for that important stretch are in the works, and the planners would like bounce some scenarios off the public.
That 2 ½-mile stretch of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, one of Marin County’s most important and congested thoroughfares, is due for pavement and other improvements over the next 2 ½ years. The Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) has set up a workshop for November 18 in Kentfield to gather local viewpoints. This is a follow-up meeting to one that took place in May at which many issues and concerns were raised.
This is a chance to provide input on potential design priorities and concepts, based on analysis of the corridor and public input to date. Since the May workshop, the project team has developed alternative design concepts intended to improve the function of the corridor. Input from this workshop will assist engineers in developing refined alternatives for further community discussion this winter.
During morning commutes, the Drake Boulevard corridor is the primary feeder to southbound Highway 101 from communities in the lower and upper Ross Valley. In the evening, it’s particularly busy off Highway 101 back toward the upper Ross Valley. Sir Francis Drake also serves as the key road to reach Marin General Hospital, College of Marin’s Kentfield Campus, Marin Catholic High School, Bacich Elementary School, Bon Air Center shopping area, the Larkspur Ferry Terminal and the Marin Country Mart shopping area.
Funding for the project, approximately $13.2 million, is from Measure A, Marin’s 2004 transportation sales tax.
The workshop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Fusselman Hall 120 on the Kentfield campus of College of Marin. Free parking is available only in Lot 9 off of Kent Avenue; parking fees apply in other lots. More information about the project is available on the project web page.