Sunday, December 16, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Marin IJ - Readers Forum - Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sidewalk safety project
In
the Nov. 13 editorial, "Tragic reminder to drivers of need to be
careful," the IJ urged Novato officials, and all leaders in Marin, to
make our streets safer for our children, and for all pedestrians and
bicyclists. As co-directors of the newly completed Safe Passage along
Lucas Valley Road project, we applaud those efforts.
Without doubt, there have been many more incidents, some fatal, on this popular two-lane county road burdened with trucks, emergency vehicles, commuters, visitors, motorcyclists, athletes, cyclists and pedestrians.
Our project was launched in 2006, when we noticed school children walking dangerously close to speeding traffic on Lucas Valley Road. Over the past six years, we spent thousands of hours gathering community support, walking with officials along this route to point out the dangers, and with dozens of volunteers, clearing the brush back to enable pedestrians to walk off the pavement, rather than on the street.
The success of this project is proof that volunteer action works! We are so grateful to our dedicated community members and to San Rafael and county officials for stepping up to provide a safe sidewalk along Lucas Valley Road.
You are invited to join us for the ribbon cutting celebration on Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. at Las Gallinas Avenue and Lucas Valley Road. Our blog address: safepassagealonglucasvalleyroad.blogspot.com.
Carolyn Lenert and Ray Lorber,
Co-Directors, Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road
Friday, November 16, 2012
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Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The community is enjoying the new sidewalk
The Ribbon Cutting is nearly ready to be scheduled.
There are a couple of things that need to be completed first.
But meanwhile the sidewalk is open and in use.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The final step is installation of the railings. Scheduled for the week of November 26.
Workers are installing prototype of the the railing.
The concrete for the sidewalk has been poured
The concrete for the sidewalk has been poured
from Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Drive.
 |
| View of sidewalk looking west from the 101 Lucas Valley Road entrance. |
 |
| View of sidewalk looking east from the 101 Lucas Valley Road entrance. |
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Bicyclist racing to keep out of traffic
|
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Another accident on Lucas Valley Road
Woman Trapped for Four Hours After Car Accident on Lucas Valley Road
A 53-year-old San Rafael woman's vehicle drifted off the north edge of
the roadway, hit two signposts and then careened down a 20 foot
embankment early Thursday morning.
San Rafael resident Cassandre Jade, 53, was driving her 2007 Toyota westbound on Lucas Valley Road around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 11. Jade’s vehicle drifted off the north edge of the roadway, hit two signposts and then careened down a 20 foot embankment, according to Roth.
“The vehicle came to rest in a shallow creek and was not visible from the roadway,” he said.
Jade, who was not wearing her seatbelt, sustained major injuries to her head and face, and broke her ankle. She was trapped in the vehicle for approximately four hours when a pedestrian walking along Lucas Valley Road spotted the Toyota in the creek.
The Marinwood Fire Department found Jade conscious but trapped in her vehicle. They extricated her and she was transported to Marin General Hospital.
The exact cause of the collision is still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Jade is suspected of falling asleep at the wheel.
“Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in this collision,” Roth said.
Today they began pouring the curb
Pictures show the contractors pouring concrete for the curbing at the
Los Gamos intersection.
They have scheduled to complete pouring the curb from
Los Gamos to the mail boxes at Las Gallinas in one day.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Snapshot
News from the desk of San Rafael City Manager Nancy MackleSeptember 13, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 9:10AM
Safe Passage Along Lucas Valley Road
A
few years ago a group of citizens in north San Rafael formed a group
called Safe Passage for Lucas Valley Road and worked tirelessly to get
the installation of a sidewalk (where there was none) on the south side
of Lucas Valley Road between Las Gallinas and Los Gamos Road. The City
and County Public Works departments worked collaboratively to bring
this project to life, with the County successfully securing funding
through several sources. This will be a great improvement for
pedestrian safety and is a wonderful example of our community volunteers
in action!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Pedestrians access is prevented during construction of the sidewalk
 |
| Corner of Las Gallinas Avenue and Lucas Valley Road |
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The first thing they had to do:
Monday morning, September 10, 2012 the construction of the sidewalk for Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road begins with cutting back the shrubbery so that the construction crews will have access to the planned sidewalk location.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Today we Celebrated the Ground Breaking
 |
| Mark MacMillan, Carolyn Lenert, Supervisor Susan Adams, Ray Lorber, Councilmember Damon Connolly and County Public Works Director Bob Beaumont |
 |
| Ernest Klock, David Crowne and Mark MacMillan |
 |
| Scott Schneider and Andy Peri |
 |
| Ladd Sievenpiper and Nancy Boyce |
 |
| Sharon DeMartini |
 | |||
| Master of Ceremonies - Supervisor Susan Adams |
 |
| Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road |
 |
| Councilmember Damon Connolly |
 | |||||
| David Crowne, Patrick Seidler, John Rojas, Marin County Supervisor Susan Adams, Ray Lorber, San Rafael Councilmember Damon Connolly and Preston McCoy |
 |
| Mark MacMillan and Carolyn Lenert with Night and Day |
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Supervisors vote for the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project
Community Action does work
Together we are Better
The Marin County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 to approve the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project.
Supervisor Susan Adams opened the meeting with a discussion of the project.
Then, during the Open Time for the public to speak, Ray Lorber and Carolyn Lenert thanked the Supervisors, in advance of their vote, for their support for the project.
The Supervisors then voted for Consent Calendar B and the project received a unanimous vote.
See the video by clicking on the link below.
http://marin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=33&clip_id=6317&meta_id=646422
Community Action does work
Together we are Better
Lucas Valley Road 'Safe Passage' Project Breaks Ground After 6 Years
The sidewalk project, which first started in 2006, will go before the Marin Board of Supervisors at their Tuesday meeting.
Six years ago, neighbors in North San Rafael embarked on a plan to
make a sidewalk along the south side of Lucas Valley Road safer for
pedestrians. Next month, they will be celebrating their tenacity with a
ground-breaking ceremony.
“We’re just elated,” said Ray Lorber, one of the directors for the Safe Passage Along Lucas Valley Road project. “I sent out an email to over 65 people who helped throughout the years thanking them.”
When complete, the sidewalk–which continues between Las Gallinas Avenue and Los Gamos Drive–will allow neighbors to access bus service at US-101, the 101 Lucas Valley Road office building and Marin YMCA.
The Marin Board of Supervisors will approve a $785,000-bid from San Rafael construction company Ghilotti Bros. for the project in their Aug. 14 meeting. The total construction will cost approximately $864,000.
The project is part of a larger plan to improve conditions for pedestrians throughout Marin. The Lucas Valley Road portion will see 2,200 feet of a new sidewalk and bike lane and four new curb ramps for those with wheelchairs.
“This gateway to San Rafael was one of the very few arteries off Highway 101 that had no place for pedestrians or cyclists. It was a missing link,” said Carolyn Lenert, resident of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents and co-director of the project.
Lorber and the Mont Marin Homeowners Association first initiated the project in 2006. At that time, pedestrians could not safely walk along the south side of Lucas Valley Road. “With 45 mph traffic, you might as well have been walking on a freeway,” he said.
Lenert and Lorber raised a small sum of money to fund the project. Minimal safety lighting and no parking signs have already been installed to improve traffic safety. Over the past 45 months, volunteers showed up for quarterly “75 Minute Saturday Clean-Ups” to remove the vegetation that prevented pedestrians from using the shoulder of the road.
“It has taken 7 years, but soon the pedestrians will have a better choice than walking on the road with 45 mph traffic or in the mud and dirt of the slanting shoulder,” Lorber said. “When completed, the corridor will be safer."
In March 2007, Mark McMillan survived after being hit by a speeding truck veering out of its lane in the area. “I do truly hope that the powers that be can come to a conclusion that will increase the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists alike. It will be better for wildlife, our pets, children, recreational and commuting neighbors," he recently told Lorber and Lenert.
"Finally, something wonderful has come from Mark’s horrific accident and his hope is realized," they said.
Want to join in the celebration? The ground-breaking ceremony will take place on Sept. 4 at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Los Gamos and Lucas Valley Road.
“We’re just elated,” said Ray Lorber, one of the directors for the Safe Passage Along Lucas Valley Road project. “I sent out an email to over 65 people who helped throughout the years thanking them.”
When complete, the sidewalk–which continues between Las Gallinas Avenue and Los Gamos Drive–will allow neighbors to access bus service at US-101, the 101 Lucas Valley Road office building and Marin YMCA.
The Marin Board of Supervisors will approve a $785,000-bid from San Rafael construction company Ghilotti Bros. for the project in their Aug. 14 meeting. The total construction will cost approximately $864,000.
The project is part of a larger plan to improve conditions for pedestrians throughout Marin. The Lucas Valley Road portion will see 2,200 feet of a new sidewalk and bike lane and four new curb ramps for those with wheelchairs.
“This gateway to San Rafael was one of the very few arteries off Highway 101 that had no place for pedestrians or cyclists. It was a missing link,” said Carolyn Lenert, resident of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents and co-director of the project.
Lorber and the Mont Marin Homeowners Association first initiated the project in 2006. At that time, pedestrians could not safely walk along the south side of Lucas Valley Road. “With 45 mph traffic, you might as well have been walking on a freeway,” he said.
Lenert and Lorber raised a small sum of money to fund the project. Minimal safety lighting and no parking signs have already been installed to improve traffic safety. Over the past 45 months, volunteers showed up for quarterly “75 Minute Saturday Clean-Ups” to remove the vegetation that prevented pedestrians from using the shoulder of the road.
“It has taken 7 years, but soon the pedestrians will have a better choice than walking on the road with 45 mph traffic or in the mud and dirt of the slanting shoulder,” Lorber said. “When completed, the corridor will be safer."
In March 2007, Mark McMillan survived after being hit by a speeding truck veering out of its lane in the area. “I do truly hope that the powers that be can come to a conclusion that will increase the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists alike. It will be better for wildlife, our pets, children, recreational and commuting neighbors," he recently told Lorber and Lenert.
"Finally, something wonderful has come from Mark’s horrific accident and his hope is realized," they said.
Want to join in the celebration? The ground-breaking ceremony will take place on Sept. 4 at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Los Gamos and Lucas Valley Road.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Ground Breaking Ceremony
Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road
"Ground Breaking Ceremony"
This time
- no weed, nor scotch broom pulling and no trash pickup -
just celebrating the end to suffering 45 MPH traffic.
Join us for the Ground Breaking Ceremony that will begin the construction (WE KNOW, YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD SEE THE DAY) of the pedestrian pathway along Lucas Valley Road from Las Gallinas
Avenue to Los Gamos Drive."Ground Breaking Ceremony"
This time
- no weed, nor scotch broom pulling and no trash pickup -
just celebrating the end to suffering 45 MPH traffic.
2:00 pm, Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Meet at the corner of Los Gamos Drive and Lucas Valley Road in the south/west parking lot.
Safe Passage along Lucas Valley RoadMeet at the corner of Los Gamos Drive and Lucas Valley Road in the south/west parking lot.
Let us know if you can come to the Ceremony: Email safepassagelucasvalleyroad@msn.com
Safe Passage Along Lucas Valley Road - The neighbors came together to get a safe pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists along Lucas Valley Road from Las Gallinas to Los Gamos.
NOW! Checkout our http://safepassagealonglucasvalleyroad.blogspot.com/
A sponsored project of MarinLink and the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Ground Breaking Ceremony
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Safe
Passage Success! Ground-breaking
Scheduled!
Federal STP Grants Deliver a Safe Pedestrian Pathway on
Lucas
Valley Road between Las Gallinas and Los Gamos
SAN
RAFAEL, California (August 9, 2012) – Safe Passage Along Lucas Valley Road announces
its ground-breaking celebration for the County of Marin sidewalk along the
south side of Lucas Valley Road between Las Gallinas Avenue and Los Gamos Drive
in San Rafael, California. When
complete, this pathway will allow community members to access bus service at
Highway 101, the 101 Lucas Valley Road office building, and the popular Marin
YMCA. On September 4, 2012, the
ground-breaking ceremony will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the intersection of Los Gamos and Lucas Valley Road.
Over
the past 45 months, Safe Passage has conducted quarterly “75 Minute Saturday Clean-Ups”
to remove the vegetation that prevented pedestrians from using the shoulder of
the road. Volunteers were regularly
joined by County Supervisor Susan Adams.
Lenert remarked, “This gateway to San Rafael was one of the very few arteries off Highway 101 that had no place for pedestrians or cyclists. It was a missing link.” Minimal safety lighting and bike lane/no parking signs have already been installed to improve traffic safety. Lorber commented, “It has taken 7 years, but soon the pedestrians will have a better choice than walking on the road with 45 mph traffic or in the mud and dirt of the slanting shoulder. When completed, the corridor will be safer." Mark McMillan, who survived being hit by a speeding truck veering out of its lane in March of 2007 told the co-Directors, “I do truly hope that the powers that be can come to a conclusion that will increase the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists alike…It will be better for wildlife, our pets, children, recreational and commuting neighbors.” Finally, something wonderful has come from Mark’s horrific accident and his hope is realized.
In 2010, Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road announced
their first Mark MacMillan Public Safety Award to volunteer, John Rojas, a past
leader of the NSRCR. Rojas exclaimed, “The
Stepping Up/Stepping Out Campaign is a great success!” The 2011 winner Preston McCoy (of San
Rafael’s Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee) told the gathering, “This means
concrete progress on the City’s plan for non-motorized transport! And in 2012, the winner David Crowne said, “I
had no idea when we started that together we could make a difference so
quickly!"
Safe
Passage is also grateful for the support of hundreds of community members which
we call Lucas Valley Road Lovers or LoVeRs, for short. We give special recognition to Nader
Mansourian, Traffic Engineer, San Rafael Public works department who was the
first official to step up and release a lettter that stated "I would like
to emphasize that we support the sidewalk installation:... This is a good
project for future grants. The City of
San Rafael supports the project,.... A
partial list of contributors includes the Supervisors and staff of the County
of Marin, the elected officials and staff of the City of San Rafael, State of
California CalTrans, multiple organizations and local businesses, including
Wachovia Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, FastSigns, Kiki LaPorta of DesCom Studios, Craig
Scheidt of 101 Lucas Valley Road office building, Kel Harris of Safe Routes to
Schools, Tom Forster of LucasFilm Ltd., artist John Libberton, Marin YMCA
leadership and staff, Rachel Kamman of
Kamman Hydrology & Engineering, Inc., Patrick Seidler and Transportation
Alternatives of Marin, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, David Hoffman
and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, Preston McCoy and the Bicycle/Pedestrian
Advisory Committee, Aref Ahmadia of West End Café, Ahmad Fillabi of Smith Ranch
Deli and the Automobile Club of Northern
California.
###
Media
contact: Carolyn Lenert 415.499.9234 - SafePassageLucasValleyRoad@msn.com
Safe
Passage Along Lucas Valley Road
c/o
Five Upper Oak Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903
Telephone: 415.499.9234 – Fax: 415.499.9234
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