Guiding principles for the northbound US-101 to eastbound I-580 direct connector

The San Rafael City Council has endorsed the following Guiding Principles for the Director Connector project.

The Connector project should follow these seven guiding principles:

1. Reduce travel delays and increase transportation choices for all travelers
2. Support future economic investment and development
3. Improve safety
4. Fit in with the local setting and be aesthetically pleasing
5. Minimize impacts on the environment
6. Design for the future—not the past
7. Build the project in an efficient, timely way

The purpose of these seven principles is to express the City of San Rafael’s vision for how a direct connector can benefit our community. The City recognizes that the connector is a regional project, intended to provide regional benefits. However, the project also presents opportunities for local benefits and should provide such benefits to offset local impacts.

The City encourages TAM to consider these opportunities as it develops alternatives and selects a preferred alternative. The project should provide a net benefit for the City of San Rafael as well as Marin County and the Bay Area as a whole.

The following detail elaborates on how a direct connector can benefit San Rafael. For each principle, the text identifies expected regional outcomes and desired local outcomes. The discussion is not intended to provide commentary or direction on any one alternative. Likewise, the principles are not intended as measurable evaluation criteria, or a ranking of priorities. Rather they express values that are important to San Rafael. Any future alternative(s) should be generally consistent with and not preclude achievement of these principles.

Regional: Reduce travel time and delays for motorists transitioning from northbound 101 to eastbound 580.

Local:

• Improve traffic flow on Bellam Boulevard and other local streets in and around the interchange
• Improve local pedestrian and bicycle access on surface streets around the interchange and establish better connections between the Canal and Downtown.
• Maintain the capacity of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard as a thoroughfare connecting US 101 and I-580.

Regional: Support the economic vitality of the Bay Area, including anticipated job growth, commute patterns, and commercial goods movement.

Local:

• Improve visibility and access to businesses in Southeast San Rafael, including access improvements for customers, employers, and suppliers.
• Minimize the direct displacement of businesses resulting from the project, as well as indirect impacts resulting from construction or changes to local streets and driveways.

Regional: Reduce collision hazards and improve sight lines for vehicles using the interchanges.

Local:

• Reduce collision hazards on surface streets in the project vicinity.
• Improve pedestrian and bicycle safety along Bellam Boulevard and cross-streets.

Regional: Blend in with the Marin County/North Bay context.

Local:

• Consider the height and bulk with associated flyover ramps, viaducts, and other project components.
• Minimize loss of open space, large-scale tree removal, and grading scars.
• Provide for streetscape improvements on local streets affected by the project.

Regional: Improve regional air and water quality and support statewide greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Local:

• Consider social equity including environmental issues: Minimize the noise, air quality, and other environmental impacts of the project on nearby San Rafael neighborhoods and businesses.
• Evaluate localized air quality impacts as part of environmental review and avoid impacts that may affect the health and wellness of residents in the project vicinity.

Regional: Consider the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel and commuting patterns, and plan for future changes in technology, vehicle design, and regional conditions.

Local:

• Select alternatives that do not preclude future improvements to ingress or egress to/from Southeast San Rafael neighborhoods, including a future westbound 580 to southbound 101 connector.
• Consider long-term impacts related to sea level rise adaptation planning.