Is there a Silver Lining to Greenbrae 101 freeway project?

By Daniel J. "Dan" Hillmer

I can report, as Larkspur's TAM representative, that Larkspur and Greenbrae resident's interests, as well as those residents of the Ross Valley, have been well protected and promoted.

The TAM 101 Greenbrae Corridor Project has received much attention in recent months and I can report, as Larkspur's TAM representative, that Larkspur and Greenbrae resident's interests, as well as those residents of the Ross Valley, have been well protected and promoted.

So far in this complex community conversation, the following important consensus outcomes have been adopted and direction given by the TAM Board to staff in allocating the $36.7 Million available from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for transportation improvements to the area.

1. Refocus discussion of congestion solutions on direct freeway to freeway connectors starting with feasibility of a Northbound 101 to Eastbound 580 connector at the Richmond San Rafael Bridge. This was the common sense solution 10 years ago and it is the inevitable solution now, as the bridge traffic getting onto and off of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is the major cause of 101 congestion in this area.

2. Improve and add capacity to existing Eastbound 580 access at the Richmond Rafael Bridge and restoring the third lane to the existing 2 lane bridge access.

3. Widen existing Eastbound Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from the Northbound 101 Freeway off ramp at Sir Francis Drake to the Richmond San Rafael Bridge.

4. Improve access to Southbound 101 by improving Sir Francis Drake Boulevard Eastbound from Eliseo to the 101 Freeway including widening the southbound 101 freeway on ramp if feasible.

5. Preserve the existing bike/pedestrian overcrossing at Lucky Drive. Complete the Bay Trail to the Ferry Terminal with the Ferry Connector Project Phase 2 and on to the San Rafael Transit Center. Improve local bikeway networks on both sides of the freeway.

6. Complete SMART to the Larkspur Ferry terminal. Work further to improve convenient train to ferry access.

By rejecting CALTRANS' "Build Project", Marin avoided major significant negative environmental impacts to the 101 scenic corridor connecting our Twin Cities' community to the Bay.

The public process led to TAM clarifying spending priorities toward Regional Measure 2 funding objectives:
- Improve access to the Richmond San Rafael Bridge.
- Remove barriers to alternative modes of transportation.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by autos and light trucks.

The economics of the project vastly improved when it was clear that there was no identifiable funding source for the CALTRANS $143 Million "Build Project". The Regional Measure 2 funding available is only $36.7 Million. This allowed the TAM board to allocate the available limited resources to the items described in 1-6 above. A good follow up question to the TAM staff is "Why was the public traumatized by the proposed $143 Million "Build Project" without also being presented during the environmental review period with a lower cost, lower impact and more affordable alternative like what the TAM eventually adopted in items 1-6, above?".

This is good illustration of how the local electeds in Marin work together and listen to the public when issues arise. In this instance, the 16 member TAM board, with all 12 towns and cities with the County represented, took the necessary time to listen to the public, correctly define the problem, in this case "how to best allocate $36.7 Million toward RM2 eligble projects", and balance cost and benefit to create the best outcome possible for our community.

This could be seen as the silver lining in this cloudy conversation.

This column is dedicated to the memory of community member Karen Nygren, who was a constant voice for values holding "quality of life" as more important than "convenient automobile thru traffic" in public meetings related to the 101 Greenbrae Corridor area.