City Seeks Funds for Pedestrian Bridge on Grand Avenue

At their Monday meeting, the City Council will consider applying for a $1.4 million grant from the state to construct a 12 foot wide pedestrian bridge along the east side of Grand Avenue.

East Francisco Boulevard from Bellam Boulevard to Second Street is one of two major corridors in and out of East San Rafael’s neighborhoods where city staff want to focus on improving the  pedestrian and bicycle connections, according to City Manager Nancy Mackle.

The grant for the Grand Avenue bridge will come from the State of California's Bicycle Transportation Account (BTW). The project's design and environmental work was funded by a grant from the San Francisco Bay Trails Association and will be completed in September, 2012.  If the BTA grant is secured, final design and construction could occur in 2014.

Other improvements along the corridor include a widening project for a mult-iuse path on East Francisco Boulevard from Bellam to Vivian Way. The segment from Vivian to the bridge is expected to be begin construction in 2013, and will be funded through a $1.5 million federal Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot program (NTTP) grant.

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