SVBC brings SMC leaders to learn by bike from SMART rail-with-trail
On July 12, SVBC brought a contingent of San Mateo County stakeholders for a bike ride fieldtrip to the
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit
train and parallel multiuse trail to learn from the experts on how this system is being built. This fieldtrip was generously supported by JUMP bikes, The New Wheel Bike Shop, and Peninsula Open Space Trust.
The morning started on individual trips to San Francisco via Caltrain or BART. We then met at the Ferry Building to take the ferry to Larkspur with our bikes. The group was made up of city planners, SamTrans/Caltrain staff and Boardmembers, and non-profit allies. We were greeted by Bjorn Griepenburg of Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) who gave us background on the project, its successes and challenges, and the next steps. He also led us on a two hour tour taking the trail from Larkspur ferry to the San Rafael Transit Center. This trail is part of
MCBC's vision for a North-South Greenway
.This system has been in the works for many years, but the train just began service two years ago. Currently service runs between San Rafael and the Sonoma County Airport. It will open a station this year that connects to the Larkspur Ferry and eventually run north to Cloverdale. The train was approved by voters along with a commitment to build a connected, parallel, multiuse trail along the entire length. That trail is not yet complete and features
various segments that are done, funded, or planned
. SVBC looks to this rail-with-trail as a model that local leaders can learn from as the
In that campaign, SVBC is advocating for a multiuse trail alongside transit from Redwood City over the Bay.We saw some really great infrastructure. One piece was the rehabilitation of the rail tunnel between Larkspur and San Rafael. This has been half-open as the trail for several years and soon will also accommodate trains. We biked along the wide, multiuse path that was sometimes within spitting distance of the train tracks. We encountered a connection to green bike lanes on the local street network as well as a bike signal crossing.
We were able to see a newly opened portion of trail alongside the train
. We also reached a current gap where the trail ends about 1/2 mile before getting to the transit center. This is one of the next areas of focus but requires cantilevering over a creekbed as well as creek restoration. We also saw a roundabout, a newly completed bike/ped bridge, and more!
At San Rafael Transit Center, a SMART train was waiting to depart and we were able to peek on board to see the hanging bike racks and interior design. There was also ample and secure bike parking at the station. From there, we viewed the beginning of the trail that heads north. At the end of our tour, a SMART engineer met us to talk over the technical challenges of implementing the rail and trail together.Thanks to everyone who made this ride happen. We can't wait to ride the completed trail all the way from Larkspur to Cloverdale! We also look forward to having something similar in our area!