____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Agenda Item No: 2.q
Meeting Date: July 20, 2026
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Public Works
Prepared by: Kelly Abey, Traffic Engineering
Technician
Sayed Fakhry, City Traffic Engineer
April Miller, Public Works Director
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: EMBARCADERO WAY ONE-WAY CONVERSION PILOT PROJECT SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A FIRST
AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
PARAMETRIX, INC. (PMX) FOR ADDITIONAL DESIGN, OUTREACH, AND
IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EMBARCADERO WAY ONE-WAY CONVERSION PILOT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,580, INCREASING THE TOTAL AMOUNT UNDER THE AGREEMENT TO $120,795 RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Parametrix, Inc. (PMX) for additional design, outreach, and implementation services associated with the Embarcadero Way One-Way Conversion Pilot Project in the amount of $26,580, increasing the total amount under the agreement to $120,795.
BACKGROUND:
Embarcadero Way, located within the City of San Rafael, is a narrow street with a steep, vegetated dropoff on the north of the street, which is contiguous with the San Rafael High School Property. This existing street connects 3rd Street to the Montecito neighborhood, which is partially located in unincorporated Marin County. It mainly serves residents, students, and faculty from the nearby high school and provides access for the neighborhood. Embarcadero Way also provides direct driveway access for two of the homes located at the easternmost end of the street. Due to its location on the edge of the City of San Rafael and unincorporated Marin County, coordination with the County on the project is underway, as changes to Embarcadero Way might affect vehicle counts on County streets.
The narrowness of the street and allowance for two-way traffic results in vehicles often backing up into a driveway or until they approach a wider section of the street to allow vehicles to pass from the opposing direction. The narrowness of the street has contributed to incidents, as reported by the Police Department and the community.
In 2022, the City began outreach efforts by notifying neighbors of the one-way conversion and soliciting feedback on the chosen vehicle travel direction. The one-way direction was chosen based on the traffic volume counts taken on Embarcadero Way in 2022. Efforts on the project were halted due to a lack of SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
capacity within the traffic team, but the project remained on the to-do list. Additionally, there were ongoing inquiries from SeeClickFix and the Police Department about the street. Once the traffic team was rebuilt, it was decided there was capacity to address this street.
To improve user conditions and safety on Embarcadero Way, the City selected PMX in Fall 2025 to assist with the design, outreach, and implementation of the Embarcadero Way One-Way Conversion Pilot Project. PMX demonstrated understanding of the City's needs and possesses relevant experience with other transportation projects within the City.
The pilot project aims to reduce vehicle-to-vehicle conflicts by circulating vehicles in one direction towards nearby streets, such as Mission Avenue, Marina Court Drive, or Sea View Avenue. To supplement the 2022 data collection, pre-project traffic data was collected in Fall 2025. Based on the traffic data, a pilot (temporary) one-way in the northeast direction (referred to as “Phase 1”) was implemented on Embarcadero Way. During this time, drivers were only permitted to drive uphill on Embarcadero Way from Marina Court Drive to Mission Avenue. The one-way direction was installed in February 2026 with striping, signage, and barricades. Two months into the one-way implementation, community feedback and additional traffic data were collected.
During Phase 1 of the project, the City received interest from the Montecito Area Residents Association (MARA) and other community members in testing a one-way on Embarcadero Way in the southwest direction. The City decided that after Phase 1 was completed in May 2026, an additional phase (Phase 2) would be added to temporarily install the one-way in the southwest direction, downhill on Embarcadero Way from Mission Avenue to Marina Court Drive. Similar to Phase 1, Phase 2 traffic data and community feedback were collected approximately two months into the three-month installation.
The City planned to keep Phase 2 in place until a final report with supporting documents was prepared and presented to the City Council for a decision on permanent installation. However, during the temporary installation of Phase 2, the City began receiving community input to remove the Phase 2 one-way installation. Additionally, the collected traffic data showed an overall increase in speeding and the number of wrong-way drivers during Phase 2. Thus, the City decided to install Phase 3 in June 2026, after Phase 2 was removed.
Phase 3 closed Embarcadero Way from Mission Avenue to Marina Court Drive to all vehicle traffic.
Bicyclists and pedestrians are permitted to travel through the segment during the closure. Installation of the Phase 3 closure of Embarcadero increases the signage and physical barriers to address the number of wrong-way drivers as noted in Phase 2, while also allowing emergency access vehicles to drive through the street when needed. The incorporation of Phase 3 also enables comprehensive pilot testing and traffic analysis of all options for the Embarcadero Way segment. During the Phase 3 closure, the final report recommendations will be developed based on the data and input collected in Phase 1 and 2. Traffic data and community input for Phase 3 will be collected in Fall 2026, once school is back in session, and incorporated into the final report recommendations. Phase 3 is planned to remain in place until early Winter 2026, when the report is finalized, and the City Council considers next steps.
ANALYSIS:
The Professional Services Agreement with PMX included one temporary test of the one-way on Embarcadero Way between Mission Avenue and Mariana Court Drive in one direction. The addition of Phases 2 and 3, along with their corresponding concept plans, traffic counts, graphics, and data collection and evaluation, was not included in PMX’s original scope of work; therefore, staff recommends an amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with PMX to include the additional design, outreach, and implementation services. Copies of the proposed agreement and the updated scope of work are provided as Attachments 2 and 3.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
The Project is consistent with the City Council’s Three-Year Strategic Plan, specifically Goal B.2.2, which is to launch and evaluate projects for traffic calming measures to improve neighborhood safety.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The City has hosted an Embarcadero Way One-Way Conversion Pilot Project website since Fall 2025, which includes project information and is updated regularly as the project progresses. During Phases 1 and 2 of the project, the City hosted a survey on its website for members of the public to provide their feedback and experiences during both phases. The Phase 3 survey will be posted on the website in early Fall. Survey information, along with notices, was sent to the surrounding neighborhood on both the County and City sides before the installation of each. The notices can be found in the Project Documents section at the bottom of the project website.
Prior to installation of Phase 1, the project was presented to the San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) on December 3, 2025. It was brought back to BPAC on June 10, 2026, to present preliminary data from Phase 1 and 2 and provide an update on Phase 3.
Throughout each phase of the project, a 30”x40” poster has been posted by the entrance of Embarcadero Way to provide more information about the project to passersby.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The PMX agreement, in the amount of $94,215, to install the Embarcadero Way One-Way Conversion Pilot Project was funded through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Road Safety Implementation Program, which received an appropriation of $500,000 from the Gas Tax Fund (#206) as part of the City Council approved FY 2024-25 capital budget.
The amendment is for $26,580 and will provide additional design services for the Embarcadero Way OneWay Conversion Pilot Project. This amendment will be funded through the FY 2026-27 Road Safety Implementation Program, which received an appropriation of $500,000 from the Gas Tax Fund (#206) as part of the City Council approved FY 2026-27 capital budget.
Signage installation and pavement marking changes will be performed by the Streets Maintenance Division staff and will be absorbed into the Public Works Department’s FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 budgets.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider relating to this matter:
1. Adopt the resolution as presented.
2. Do not adopt the resolution and provide further direction to staff.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a first amendment to the professional services agreement with Parametrix, Inc. (PMX) for additional design, outreach, and implementation services associated with the Embarcadero Way One-Way Conversion Pilot Project in the amount of $26,580, increasing the total amount under the agreement to $120,795.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4
2. Task Order Amendment with PMX
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PARAMETRIX, INC. (PMX) FOR
ADDITIONAL DESIGN, OUTREACH, AND IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES ASSOCIATED
WITH THE EMBARCADERO WAY ONE-WAY CONVERSION PILOT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,580, INCREASING THE TOTAL AMOUNT UNDER THE AGREEMENT TO $120,795
WHEREAS, to improve user conditions and safety on Embarcadero Way, in Fall 2025, the City of San Rafael selected PMX to assist with the design and implementation of the Embarcadero Way One-Way Conversion Pilot Project; and
WHEREAS, PMX demonstrated understanding of the City's needs and possesses relevant experience with other transportation projects within the City; and WHEREAS, the City entered into a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) dated August 31, 2025, with PMX, for design, outreach, and implementation services associated with the Embarcadero Way One-Way Conversion Pilot Project, in the amount of $94,215; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael requires additional design services from PMX to install additional phases of the project; and
WHEREAS, City staff received a proposal from PMX for said services in a total amount of $26,580; and
WHEREAS, City staff has reviewed the proposal and found it to be complete; and WHEREAS, the Professional Services Agreement (PSA) in the amount of $94,215, to install the Embarcadero Way One-Way Conversion Pilot Project, was funded through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Road Safety Implementation Program, which received an appropriation of $500,000 from the Gas Tax Fund (#206) as part of the City Council approved FY 2024-25 capital budget; and
WHEREAS, the PSA amendment in the amount of $26,580 for additional design services associated with the Embarcadero Way One-Way Conversion Pilot Project will be funded through the FY 2025-26 Road Safety Implementation Program, which received an appropriation of $500,000 from the Gas Tax Fund (#206) as part of the City Council approved FY 2025-26 capital budget; and
WHEREAS, the PSA amendment will increase the total amount under the agreement to $120,795;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL RESOLVES as follows:
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct.
2. The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Parametrix, Inc. (PMX) for additional design, outreach, and implementation services in the amount of $26,580, for a total contract amount of $120,795 in a form approved by the City Attorney.
3. The Director of Public Works is hereby authorized to take any and all such actions and make changes as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose of this resolution.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 20th day of July 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk