April 15, 2024
San Rafael City Council
1400 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
RE: 101/580 Connector Project (Item 5a)
Honorable Mayor and Council Members,
Sustainable San Rafael has been part of TAM's Stakeholder Working Group studying the connector idea for several years.
We have questioned the cost of a new interchange--with
elevated flyovers and a widened freeway to receive them-- compared to investments of greater priority, such as
protecting I-580 and east San Rafael from sea level rise. We wonder whether these costly improvements will remain
viable in the higher waters that are inevitable here.
Sustainable San Rafael therefore supports the current
proposal to separate out the Bellam Avenue pedestrian, bike, and traffic improvements as a stand-alone EIR alternative. We urge particular attention to creating a safe and welcoming pedestrian route through this concrete domain.
We have also questioned the early decision not to examine the alternative of improving the portion of Sir Francis Drake between the two freeways as a landscaped parkway. This
would be a less expensive and more appropriately scaled and located improvement, recognizing that the traffic on this easterly portion of Drake consists largely of commuters between Southern Marin and the East Bay. The option would also be less disruptive of the vulnerable Canal community.
Sustainable San Rafael recommends including appropriate parkway improvements in the EIR as an additional
alternative.
We appreciate the flexibility of TAM and the City to
reconsider transportation priorities in response to changing conditions.
Sincerely,
William Carney,
Vice-President
CC: Anne Richman, TAM Executive Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Annika Osborn, Co-President
Howard Schwartz, Co-President
William Carney, Vice President
Miles Smith, Secretary
Greg Brockbank
Kay Karchevski
Kiki La Porta
Phil Muller
Stuart Siegel
415.302.0110