Debate Over Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Path Heats Up
Key Highlights :
As the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bicycle and pedestrian path reaches the end of its four-year trial run, transportation planners and Bay Area residents are debating the project's merits. Supporters of the path argue that it fulfills a decades-old vision to create the first route connecting the North Bay and East Bay, while critics contend that the path is a luxury for the elite and should be opened up to vehicles during the morning commute to provide relief to the tens of thousands of drivers stuck in traffic.
The Bay Area Toll Authority Oversight Committee is awaiting the results of a pilot study final report before taking action on the path, but in the meantime, planners at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Caltrans will pursue several projects that could shave off up to 17 minutes from the westbound morning commute into Marin County. These projects include removing the toll booths to make way for open-road tolling and an extended carpool lane, a $5 million Richmond Parkway interchange, transit improvements, and more bicycle infrastructure improvements.
Over the past year, an average of 115 cyclists have used the path on weekdays and an average of 325 cyclists on the weekends, while more than 80,000 vehicles cross the 5.5-mile bridge on weekdays. Westbound drivers can experience delays of nearly half an hour during peak commute times. Transportation planners say that traffic counts are at about 90% of what they were pre-pandemic, but drivers question the figures.
A popular proposal is to create another moveable barrier on the eastbound lower deck, which has three lanes open to vehicle traffic. For the morning commutes, cyclists would be diverted onto the lower deck to allow crews to reopen a third westbound lane, with the reverse happening during the afternoon commute in the eastbound direction. However, this project could cost between $70 million and $310 million in improvements to accommodate a third westbound lane, and would require overcoming environmental hurdles lasting several years.
Bicycle and pedestrian activists argue that another traffic lane would increase, not decrease, pollution, and congestion improvements, if any, would likely be short lived. They are calling for 24/7 bicycle and pedestrian access, and for funds to be used to improve transit access on the corridor.
On the other hand, some residents of Richmond argue that the path is leading to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, creating poorer air quality and affecting the health of Richmond residents.
Ultimately, the fate of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bicycle and pedestrian path will depend on the decision of the toll authority next year. Until then, the debate over the project's merits will continue to heat up.
