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Ross council approves repaving and safety upgrades for Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
Summary
The Ross Town Council approved a mid‑summer repaving and restriping project for Sir Francis Drake Boulevard between Bolinas Avenue and El Camino Bueno, including added signage, pavement markings and targeted tree removal to improve sight lines; the consent item passed unanimously.
The Ross Town Council on a unanimous vote approved a consent‑agenda item to repave and restripe Sir Francis Drake Boulevard between Bolinas Avenue and El Camino Bueno, a project scheduled to begin after mid‑July and expected to take several weeks.
Town Manager Johnson and Public Works Director Rich Simmonage told the council the project will include widened centerline and edge markings, new reflectors, additional 30 mph pavement markings in both directions and new intersection warning signage to improve visibility and calm traffic.
"We've added new 30 mile per hour speed limit pavement icons on both eastbound and westbound," Public Works Director Rich Simmonage said, describing plans to place large thermoplastic "30" symbols on the bridge span and to install a radar‑enforced roadside speed sign and intersection warning signage on the westbound approach.
Council members pressed staff on safety details. One council member said visibility for motorists turning left from Winship Avenue toward Sir Francis Drake is "very bad" and asked whether young street trees planted near the corner would create future visibility problems. Simmonage replied the trees planted at the Winship corner are likely to be removed as part of grading and ditch reconstruction there and that the construction will likely prevent those trees from surviving.
The public‑works presentation also listed periodic traffic monitoring after the improvements to reassess crash statistics and measure effectiveness; staff said they will compare police incident reports and pre‑existing traffic studies once the work is complete. The contract includes liquidated damages to encourage completion before school starts in August.
The council approved the consent item 7f with a recorded voice vote of 5 ayes and no dissent. Work is expected to begin after mid‑July; the final lane‑closure schedule will be published when available.
The project is intended to fix a notably distressed section of roadway and incorporate traffic‑calming features created by modern, wider pavement markings and reflectors, which staff said will make lanes appear narrower and reduce speeds.
