San Rafael staff present Canal neighborhood lighting concept as residents raise wildlife, safety and process concerns

San Rafael staff on Tuesday presented conceptual street and pathway lighting designs for the Canal Neighborhood Active Transportation Enhancement (ATE) Project and took public questions on wildlife impacts, safety, maintenance and community outreach.

Gray Milgaard, senior civil engineer in the city’s Public Works Department, said the Canal ATE combines previous planning work — including the community‑based Canal transportation plan and the citywide bicycle and pedestrian plan — and that the lighting element began focused design work in late August after the project won an Active Transportation Program grant. "This is kind of the first conversation we're having," Milgaard said, describing proposed fixture types: 15‑foot overhead lights and 3.5‑foot bollards, with examples and consultant‑produced heat maps showing 20‑ to 25‑foot bollard spacing and roughly 100‑foot spacing for overhead fixtures.

The city said BKF Engineers holds the professional services contract for environmental review, design and construction support and that LSA is the environmental consultant currently performing…