Status

• December 3, 2007: The plans have been approved by the Planning Commission and by the City Council. Work is expected to begin in 2008.  A bit more information is available in a Marin Independent Journal article.

Background

The City of San Rafael is planning to make major changes to the 3rd & Union intersection (in front of Montecito Shopping Center and Whole Foods). A summary of those changes are:

• Adding a second left-turn lane and left-turn-only signal for traffic from Montecito Shopping Center to westbound 3rd Street

• Lengthening the left-turn-only lane from eastbound 3rd Street onto Union Street

• Creating a right-turn-only lane from westbound 3rd Street onto Union Street

• Traffic signal upgrades including changing of timing to permit longer pedestrian crossing time

• Widening Union Street to accommodate two northbound lanes, one a left-turn-only lane into Whole Foods, and a second through-traffic lane

• Adding new sidewalks on Union Street

• Widening the sidewalk on the northbound side of westbound 3rd Street to keep students out of the street

It has been estimated by City engineers that these changes are likely to increase the time for vehicles to pass through this intersection by as much as 70 seconds on average. The changes are intended to make the intersection safer for pedestrians while improving the flow of traffic for those making turns onto or off of 3rd Street.