Thank you for your request. We have reviewed the request and have begun working to resolve it.

We are writing to let you know the issue you reported has been resolved. Unfortunately, the oil spill accident is taking more time than expected to clear in order to reopen the sidewalk on the west side of Northgate Dr. Thank you for your patience. If you wish to follow up on this request, please submit a new request ticket and reference this request ID # for staff's reference.

Issue 16125811 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Anna,

Thank you for the link and your help. You're great!

fyi -- I clicked the link. The Public Works "Issue" report summary is completely wrong. I noticed Public Works then went ahead and CLOSED the issue.

Below I have copied the report's short and inaccurate summary. I follow the summary with my response.

Can you possibly forward this email/my comments to a manager.

It would be terrible, tragic if some pedestrian became injured during this period.

Thanks!

Susan

---------------------------------------------------------------------

REPORT DESCRIPTION (inaccurate description)

"conversation with a resident today about her lack of ability to cross from the North side of Terra Linda, walking, to the Mall or to CVS because of all the work being done from the truck accident. She’s very upset that she doesn’t have a way to cross the street without walking quite an extra distance."

MY INPUT / RESPONSE

(1) The report/summary appears to have been written and the Public Works issue then closed, but NO ONE from Public Works or the City of San Rafael has had a conversation with me.

(2) The involved intersection is: Freitas Parkway / Northgate Drive.

On the northwest corner is a gas station and UPS store. On the northeast corner is a one-story doctor's office. On the southwest corner is Walgreens (and the other stores comprising Northgate 1, which is the smaller of the two Northgate shopping "malls"). On the southeast corner is a multi-level office building.

(3) The crosswalk of interest spans from the northwest corner and ends at the southwest corner (where Walgreens/Northgate 1 is AND where the remediation work is located). The crosswalk links these two corners.

This is the only major crosswalk of this intersection. It provides important access to the Northgate 1 shopping center for pedestrians who reside north of Freitas and many many others. It is a VERY busy intersection.

(4) My primary concern is PEDESTRIAN SAFETY during this spill remediation period. SAFETY should also be your concern.

(5) My concern also is the ABSENCE of a temporary, safe, USABLE pedestrian route for those heading to Northgate 1 from the Northwest corner. Again, this is the only major crosswalk for this intersection.

You appear to have established an alternative pedestrian route, but not only does the route make NO SENSE, it is also UNSAFE. Additionally, no pedestrian (except for me) walking in the crosswalk seems to notice or take seriously the arrow sign pointing out your alternative route.

Instead, pedestrians are walking in the street WITH the vehicles to reach Northgate 1. Electric wheelchair users are among these pedestrians. These wheelchair users travel to Northgate 1 on a daily basis. One wheelchair user has two little dogs he brings with him.

I have seen NO ONE -- not one person -- follow your suggested (make-no-sense) alternate route.

The remediation project encompasses the sidewalk that the pedestrians would ordinarily use to reach Northgate 1. This sidewalk is the one located alongside Walgreens -- the sidewalk starting from the southwest corner of the above-mentioned intersection, that then heads southward on the west side of Northgate Drive towards the entrance of Northgate 1 (near Big 5).

(6) This intersection is one of the busiest in San Rafael.

(7) SUGGESTION: How able putting in a temporary pedestrian lane alongside the remediation fence.

Yes, you would need to intrude/realign the southbound Northgate Drive vehicle lane a bit (i.e., the small lane segment on Northgate Dr. between Freitas and Las Gallinas), but the traffic on Northgate Drive is not significant like Freitas. Also, Northgate Drive is very wide at this location.

(8) I would bet Public Works/City of San Rafael can come up with a TEMPORARY solution that is SAFER (and saner) than what currently exists. I know all of you are very busy. I wouldn't be bothering you if I didn't feel safety was such an issue.

Thanks!

Location changed from
Los Gamos Rd & Manuel T Freitas Pkwy San Rafael, California, 94903 (38.0087400007317, -122.546220041134)
to
Manuel T Freitas Pkwy & Northgate Dr, San Rafael, CA, 94903, USA (38.00808731919278, -122.54533868529201)

Hello Susan - thank you for your follow up response on this request. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and will have someone from our transportation division follow back up on this as soon as someone is available, typically within one business day. Thank you again for your patience as we work to address your concerns.