A plan to convert the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bike path to a part-time feature has received a recommendation of approval, with conditions.
A public hearing set for Thursday could mark the conclusion of a series of meetings on what to do with the route, which is on the westbound upper deck.
Caltrans, which owns the bridge, and the Bay Area Toll Authority, which funds the operations and maintenance of the span through toll revenue, want to limit path access to the period from 2 p.m. Thursdays to 11 p.m. Sundays.
For the remainder of the week, the moveable barrier would be pushed to the side, enabling the shoulder to be used as a vehicle breakdown and emergency lane during heavy commuting hours. It would also give the agencies time to study the potential use of the shoulder as a part-time commuter lane for carpools and transit.
In its recommendation, the staff of the San Francisco Bay Area Conservation and Development Commission, or BCDC, said the state agency is charged with ensuring “maximum feasible public access consistent with the project,” and the three-year pilot project achieves that.
The proposal “is a reasonable schedule to enable the permittee to study weekly placement and removal of the path barrier, which would be necessitated if the permittee ultimately pursues” a part-time westbound improvement commuter lane, a staff memo says.
The barrier-protected, 10-foot, bidirectional path was introduced in 2019 as a four-year pilot project. Since its opening, cyclists have championed the path as an example of expanding connectivity, while commuting drivers complain that bridge traffic is worse than ever. Drivers say with the absence of an emergency shoulder, wrecks and breakdowns clog the travel lanes, exacerbating traffic.
The Bay Area Toll Authority and Caltrans submitted an initial application to modify the path for part-time use last summer, hoping to strike a balance between path access and the needs of driving commuters. Disagreement over the plan led to delays, and the agencies withdrew the proposal to rethink an approach.
A revised plan was submitted to the BCDC last month. The new iteration has a sharper focus on how to accommodate cyclists when the path is not available. A free shuttle would operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on days it is closed to transport pedestrians and cyclists. The path would also be made available on certain holidays.
The revised proposal also commits the agency to study a westbound commuter lane during the three-year pilot. A preliminary study found that making this westbound improvement could save drivers 10 to 19 minutes of travel time during peak hours. The new study will take a close look at the impact of moving the barrier weekly.
After review, BCDC staff recommend approval of the proposal on the condition that the agencies recommend the use $10 million in Regional Measure 3 bridge toll dollars for projects that improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity from Richmond to the bridge, said Rylan Gervase, a spokesperson for the commission.
Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority cannot guarantee the funding yet, because Richmond needs to complete project planning and environmental documentation first.
The projects include completing the final 1.1-mile segment of the Richmond Wellness Trail between Cutting Boulevard and the Richmond Ferry Terminal. Another project would improve a 1.7-mile segment of Harbour Way from Interstate 580 to downtown Richmond with a bike lane, pedestrian lighting and other safety improvements.
As another condition, staff are recommending that the agency study the path’s impact on safety, bridge traffic and vulnerable communities, Gervase said.
After studying the modifications for three years, Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission would report to the BCDC on the impact. The transportation agencies would then propose a long-term plan for the upper deck for the commission’s consideration.
In an email, representatives of Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission said they “appreciate the BCDC staff recommendation and the constructive back and forth at the staff level over the past several months.”
“We at MTC and BATA — and our partners at Caltrans — look forward to answering any questions the BCDC commissioners might have at the Thursday meeting,” said John Goodwin, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Toll Authority.
Comments for and against the plan have been pouring in.
On behalf of College of Marin, Nekoda Harris, the vice president for employment, submitted a letter to BCDC supporting the plan.
“This bridge is a vital transportation corridor, carrying nearly 80,000 vehicles per day, and serves as a key commute corridor for thousands of workers, including teachers, healthcare professionals, government employees, and construction workers,” the letter says. “The viability of the East Bay-Marin County commute over this bridge is crucial to our local economy.”
The sentiment was echoed in several other letters of support.
Members of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition said they were disappointed to learn that BCDC staff recommended conditional approval of the proposal.
“As other highway widening projects have clearly demonstrated, MTC’s ultimate plan for a third westbound lane on the bridge will not provide long-lasting congestion relief,” Warren Wells, policy and planning director, said in an email. “The plan will, however, result in a significant reduction in people riding or walking across the bridge, bolstering calls to further curtail the trail’s operating hours.”
The BCDC meeting is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday in the board room at Bay Area Metro Center at 375 Beale St. in San Francisco. Remote participation is available through Zoom.
More information is at bcdc.ca.gov.