Plan for San Rafael path is repetitive, unnecessary

I am writing in response to the March 22 article with the headline, “Multiuse path in San Rafael gets $1.94M.”

It describes the Rafael Meadows Safe Crossing Project, which would connect the north end of Merrydale Road with Civic Center Drive. It would go under Highway 101 along the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit train tracks. There is currently an overgrown, but usable dirt path in the location.

The reasoning for the proposed path is to provide a safer alternative to North San Pedro Road for children going to Venetia Valley School from Rafael Meadows. There already is a safe alternative to North San Pedro. Anyone living in Rafael Meadows can walk or ride a bike to the SMART tracks crossing at Las Gallinas Avenue to the existing SMART multiuse path that goes to the Civic Center SMART station — the same place as the proposed project.

I do not see any advantage to having another trail on the other side of the SMART tracks.

Due to the narrow space between the highway support embankment and the tracks, I suspect the project would require digging out some of the highway support embankment and building a retaining wall where the trail would go under 101. I worry this might undermine the southern end of the overpass support.

Considering that this is an area subject to liquefaction during earthquakes, I am concerned. It seems unnecessary. Perhaps the money might be better spent extending the bike path north of the Civic Center SMART station between Civic

Center Drive and Smith Ranch Road.

— John Buffum, Terra Linda