Upgrades on Third Street worth the effort

After 20 months of construction, the overhaul of one of San Rafael's busiest streets — Third Street — is finally completed.

The $20.8 million project was designed to address traffic flow and safety issues, install new lighting, add a bike lane and lay new water and sewer pipes and other utility lines.

Public agencies worked together to make efficient use of the construction led by the San Rafael-based Ghilotti

Bros. Inc. construction company.

Another Marin firm — CSW Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group — designed the project.

Sure, there were traffic delays. Given the extent of the work, while the busy road was still in use, lane closures and detours were not unexpected.

The overall goal of the project, from the West End neighborhood, across downtown to Union Street near San Rafael High School, was to improve the westbound arterial for motorists, bike riders and pedestrians.

The one-way road carries an estimated 30,000 vehicles daily. It is one of Marin's busiest streets and an important route for motorists to get from Highway 101 to Ross Valley and West Marin.

Many San Rafael residents rely on Third to reach the west side of the city, the Miracle Mile and to get to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

The project was an ideal candidate for federal, state, countywide and city funding. Its regional benefit made it a logical pick as a regional improvement by the Transportation Authority of Marin, which allocated $9.1 million in local sales tax revenue to the project.

“There were a lot of agencies in this project and it came together beautifully and we're going to continue to benefit in the years to come,” said San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin.

TAM's chair Brian Colbert, a San Anselmo town councilmember, said his bike ride from the Ross Valley through San Rafael “has gotten better'' since the completion of the new bike lanes.

He said the work was a good example of a “complete streets” project, one that addresses traffic flow and safety, pedestrian improvements and bike access.

While completion of this challenging project is welcome, so was the city's efforts to keep the public informed about the construction's progress.

It was not one of those projects where you wonder if it's ever going to be finished. Leaving the public out of the information loop was not a problem with this project.

On the city's website, the public could track its progress and be alerted to possible delays and detours.

That diligence in promoting public awareness should be a model for other such projects.

There's no question that a drive down Third Street is a dramatic change from what that important stretch looked like before construction crews started work.

Congratulations to City Hall and all who were involved to make sure this work made a difference.