April 15, 2022
San Rafael City Council
1400 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
RE: Merrydale Multiuse Path
Honorable Mayor and Council Members,
For several years, Sustainable San Rafael has had the pleasure of working with the Merrydale Citizens Advisory Committee and the Department of Public Works in developing a conceptual plan to realize the longstanding promise of the North San Rafael Promenade along Merrydale Road between the Northgate Center and the Civic Center SMART Station. With the prospect of funding from the City's development agreement with Northgate Town Square, the time has come to move forward with this important portion of the Promenade.
We greatly appreciate the perseverance of the Committee and the flexibility of DPW in getting to this point. The results offer the potential for a safe and pleasant multiuse path connecting existing sections of the Promenade into a coherent whole. The path will provide pedestrians and cyclists ready access to transit at the Civic Center SMART station, without the need of driving. The path will also complete the core of the Promenade, setting the stage for extending it further out Freitas Parkway as envisioned in the 2002 Promenade Conceptual Plan.
We look forward to the detailed design phase of the Merrydale Promenade to further develop a multiuse path that is welcoming and safe for both pedestrians and cyclists, and inclusive of natural elements such as the proposed bioswale and retention of existing trees, again as envisioned in the 2002 Promenade Plan. The parklike character along the SMART multiuse path south of the Civic Center Station shows the character that's possible along Merrydale.
The best way to achieve these goals is to limit SMART-related vehicular traffic on Merrydale to passenger drop-off, while continuing to provide SMART parking in the underutilized parking lots along Civic Center Drive and street spaces along McInnis Parkway. We therefore ask that you direct staff to finalize the Merrydale Promenade drawings in accordance with Option D.
Thank you for your ongoing efforts to create a walkable, bike-friendly, transit-focused, San Rafael, committed to reducing greenhouse gases and respectful of our natural community.
Sincerely,
William Carney
President, Sustainable San Rafael