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Two concepts proposed to extend Civic Center two-way bikeway; committee weighs visibility, signal impacts
Summary
Parametrics presented two options to extend the Caltrans two-way bikeway south of the Civic Center roundabout: a two-stage crossing (Concept 1) and a diagonal crossing with a dedicated bicycle phase (Concept 2). Committee members and residents debated practicality, signal work and quick-build vs. full reconstruction approaches.
San Rafael
Parametrics transportation planner Jimmy Jessup presented two conceptual ways to extend a Caltrans-provided two-way bikeway south from the new Civic Center roundabout toward Bridal Road and Merriedale.
Concept 1 would allow southbound bicyclists to use a two-stage crossing to return to the west-side bikeway in two signal phases; Concept 2 would add a diagonal crossing for bicycles with a dedicated bicycle/pedestrian signal phase actuated by bike detection. Jessup said Concept 2 would require more signal work and could impact vehicle operations, while Concept 1 represents a more traditional, lower-signal-impact solution.
Committee members and public commenters discussed visibility at the right-turn movement, the risk that bicyclists will not use two-stage crossings and may instead cross diagonally, and the cost of signal wiring and detection. One public speaker who worked in the nearby business park said the right-turn movement is heavily used and favored Concept 2's improved visibility; another local resident said Concept 1 felt more intuitive and consistent with existing city treatments.
Jessup and staff described the presentation as a quick-build scope that could be refined with field data and future resurfacing or larger projects. The committee asked staff to evaluate controller capabilities and cost implications, including wiring and bike-actuated detection, and recommended follow-up with a revised design and traffic impacts analysis.
No formal vote was taken on the concept selection at the meeting; staff said they would return with refined cost and signal-impact information in follow-up briefings.
