Lucas Valley Road / Smith Ranch Road

The interchange at Lucas Valley Road/Smith Ranch Road is in the city of San Rafael. Drivers use this interchange to get to the McInnis Park Golf Center, the Lucas Valley neighborhoods, and several office parks. TAM’s study found several features at the interchange that could be improved, including short merge lengths for on- and off-ramps, lane and shoulder widths that do not meet the current standard, and an incomplete network for bicyclists. These and other limitations are described in the Existing Conditions, Constraints, and Opportunities Report below.

Interchange Improvements

TAM proposes several improvements for the interchange to make it easier and safer for all users to travel around the interchange at the street level. Proposed projects include restriping and adding new bike lanes and bus stops. To gain an important understanding of the interchange area, the study examined the following:

  • Existing Infrastructure
  • Transit Routes and Intermodal Connectivity
  • Weekday AM & PM Peak Period Congestion
  • Crash Type and Severity
  • Environmental Constraints

 

Many of the study’s recommended changes will make the interchange easier to use for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and people using public transit. The proposals will also increase safety at the interchanges and on surrounding streets and pathways, allowing for smoother travel to, from, and across Highway 101 and local roads.

The near-term improvement concept focuses on making the interchange safer and easier get around for bicyclists and pedestrians. Lucas Valley Road will be restriped between the southbound on-ramp to Redwood Highway and a new class II bike lane will be added to the road. The sidewalk on the southside of Lucas Valley will become a multi-use path and three new bus stops will be added along Lucas Valley Road.

The long-term concept will carry forward some of the near-term proposals and includes a plan to reconfigure the intersection Los Gamos Drive and Lucas Valley Road with the addition of new southbound on- and off-ramps. The class II bike lane and multi-use path would also be extended.

Public and Agency Input

Between March and April 2021, TAM surveyed residents of Marin County to collect input about the 12 selected interchanges. More than 2,750 people responded to the survey. The survey was launched to gather the public’s thoughts and priorities on improvements to the interchange. TAM has incorporated the feedback we received to ensure the project reflects community values and preferences.

In the survey, 81 people commented on Lucas Valley/Smith Ranch Road. Residents rated the level of importance for eight potential improvements on a 5-point scale ranging from not important to most important. The interchange report includes a summary of the survey results and comments received.

Most respondents said making it safer to bike around this interchange is the most important improvement to this interchange.

Make it safer to bike around this interchange

0 %
Low
Importance
0 %
No
Opinion
0 %
High
Importance

Make it safer to walk around this interchange

0 %
Low
Importance
0 %
No
Opinion
0 %
High
Importance

Make it easier to drive to and from this interchange

0 %
Low
Importance
0 %
No
Opinion
0 %
High
Importance

Reduce traffic congestion

0 %
Low
Importance
0 %
No
Opinion
0 %
High
Importance

Improve environmental sustainability and resiliency

0 %
Low
Importance
0 %
No
Opinion
0 %
High
Importance

Improve lighting and security

0 %
Low
Importance
0 %
No
Opinion
0 %
High
Importance

Improve the quality and access to bus stops near this interchange

0 %
Low
Importance
0 %
No
Opinion
0 %
High
Importance

Increase Park and Ride capacity

0 %
Low
Importance
0 %
No
Opinion
0 %
High
Importance

" There needs to be better signage for cyclists and drivers so they'll both be aware of where to merge. This should happen at all the intersections where the routes are popular for cyclists. This is the route to China Camp, which is a popular road cycling loop and a destination for [mountain] bikers. "

Comments regarding this interchange?
Your remarks will be noted and saved for possible future phases of improvement.