News Highlights

Highway 101 Gap Closure Open House - Puerto Suello Hill Segment - San Rafael

The below information was gathered at a Caltrans meeting on 12/8/05 to discuss the Gap Closure project and related work.

The effort to add an HOV lane to 101 and improve the soundwall has been split into two separate projects based upon geographic areas: 

--The 580 junction to the Coleman pedestrian bridge.  Work on this section will begin in early 2006 and take several years to complete. 

 

--Coleman pedestrian bridge to North San Pedro Road.  Work on this section will begin in the fall of 2006 and continue until December 2008. 

 

The overall objectives of the second project are to add an HOV lane in each direction, put a larger median strip between the northbound and southbound lanes, add a bicycle/pedestrian path to the west side of the freeway, and reconstruct the sound wall on the west side of the freeway (since the current wall will be torn down to make room for the aforementioned improvements).

 

Bike/Pedestrian Path

 

The path will be 1.25 miles long, from Mission to Merrydale.  The path will be mostly 12 feet wide with 2 foot shoulders on each side, except in some “tight squeezes”.

 

The path is currently slated to be built inside the new sound wall, i.e., next to the freeway. 

 

Access to the path will be at Mission, Pacheco, Paloma, Lincoln, Los Ranchitos and along Stevens Place.  Dominican Area residents have requested additional access at Linden.

 

Four alternatives for crossing the Lincoln off-ramp were presented. 

 

Sound Wall and Noise Issues

 

The road surface will employ the “sound absorbing” asphalt material.

 

Residents emphasized the need to use materials for the new, western sound wall that have the greatest ability to absorb sound and minimize sound reflection.  That message seemed to be understood.

 

The eastern sound wall, which will not be replaced, came under some discussion.  There is a material (called PYROK) that promises to absorb sound and can be sprayed on the current masonry wall.  This material is not currently approved for use by CalTrans. There is some question as to how the eastern wall will be treated.

 

For the latest information see:

www.TAM.CA.GOV - Transportation Authority of Marin

 

 

Lincoln - Mission Proposed Condo Development

The project demolishes the historic Motor Court hotel, currently used for lower-income rental housing, and the vintage Victorian home next door in order to construct 36 condos. The Appeal largely focuses on Neighborhood impacts, Traffic, Affordable Housing and incomplete or perhaps inconsistent process according to City Code and General Plan. Due to the significance of issues, DBCNA thanks all of you that have participated so far, and for your continued support in this cross-town neighborhood issue. We hope a compelling Appeal is presented to an open-minded City Council.

Please write San Rafael Planning Department, fax (415) 485-3184 or send a letter addressed to the Community Development Department, 1400 Fifth Ave. San Rafael, 94901.

Undergrounding Utilities in the Dominican

 

Tired of those unsightly wires overhead? Research is currently underway to determine whether there is an interest to underground utilities in our area. Please review the survey recently delivered to all neighborhood homes and return per instructions as soon as possible.

 

Click here for more on undergrounding utilities in our area....

Click here for a copy of the survey ....

 

Please mail to DBCNA (address is on survey).

Reasons for placing utilities underground:

• Improved service reliability

• Greater public safety from fire, earthquake and high wind hazards

• Benefits of economies of scale can be enjoyed when done by a large group

• Neighborhood more attractive; eliminates visual blight

• Increased property values

• Reduces utility company maintenance costs for tree trimming to maintain overhead lines and equipment

• Trees can attain greater height, beauty and health when pruning decisions are made for reasons other than accommodating wiring

Please contact Carol Olwell at cjolwell@comcast.net or 455-8396 with questions.

 

Volunteers Needed!

 

If you have an interest in volunteering for any of the DBCNA Committees (see Committees page link), please email Dan Sonnet at DBCNA@sbcglobal.net!  We can use your help right away!! The board meets monthly (see Meetings and Events page link) and Committee chairs report activity / plans for their respective areas.

 

Yoga

 

Gentle, hatha yoga class for Dominican Neighbors. Call  Christine Bandettini at 457-4824. Date and time to be determined.

 

Marin Municipal Water District Plans (MMWD) - MMWD is planning to replace some of the older facilities in the Dominican area over the next several years. Two older storage tanks and pump stations will be replaced. The new tanks will be designed to survive a major earthquake. The pump stations will increase the available water for fire fighting purposes. There will be an increase in traffic during construction and some minor grading and tree trimming will be required. Contact Mr. Carl Gowan at 945-1577 at MMWD with questions / comments.

 

Historic Oak Tree on Gold Hill sprayed for Sudden Oak Death (SOD) - The 'Old Oak' has been sprayed!!  Thanks to Marin Tree Service for their help with the tree. They have given it a preventative spraying against SOD, and have volunteered to help us maintain the tree on an on-going basis.  We are most appreciative of their commitment to maintaining the health of this fine old tree!  

 

Highway 101 Expansion & Freeway Noise Reduction - Eliminate merging down of vehicles from 4 lanes to 3. Segment from Coleman Pedestrian bridge to No. San Pedro Rd. was scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2004 and be completed in Summer 2006.  Cal Trans announced they were short $17 million dollars in money required to complete the purchase of the remaining homes in the new freeway right of way. If local officials cannot find the money from their own sources, Cal Trans has said they will cancel the remainder of the freeway work through San Rafael.   Additionally, there is a $3 million dollar shortfall on funding for the improved sound walls. A Marin County Transportation Sales Tax Proposal has been proposed to get the Gap Closure Project back on track and completed by 2008. Otherwise, the problem is not expected to be resolved for an additional 7 years, that is by 2015.

Key to our neighborhood were the sound-deadening materials proposed for both the new road surface and the sound walls.   Surfacing the road with 'open-graded asphalt'  would significantly reduce the noise in our area. Made from recycled tires, this dark, rubberized substance is currently being used in some areas of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties with very good results, and is planned as an overlay from Lucky Dr. to No. San Pedro Rd. Additionally, applying a sound absorptive material to the walls themselves will further reduce the noise 'bounce' into the surrounding hills.   For many homes, freeway noise dramatically increased when the existing concrete block walls were constructed in the 1980's.  
 

If you would like to express your support for these projects, or want more information, contact  the following government representatives:   San Rafael Mayor Al Boro (Phone:485-3074, Fax:459-2242),  Farhad Mansourian , Director, Marin Department of Public Works,   Phone: 499-6570, Fax: 499-3799.  

Forest Meadows Re-forestation - removal of downed trees and re-landscaping. There is a concern about replanting in areas slated for tree removal 5-14 years in the future, in case some new planting may be damaged in the next tree removal phase. The plan was to phase this in over 15 years, so replanting would have grown up and helped to reduce the stark appearance of the most recently cut areas. The Design Review Board, neighbors and City staff are looking at options.  

 

Activities and Classifieds - Looking for walking partners, a game of chess or a  wine tasting group? How about picking up some used sports gear or a musical instrument from one of your neighbors? Check out the Dominican 'Activities and Classifieds' page for some possibilities. If you would like to post contact information to start a new group or place an ad, just follow the instructions. Activities and Classifieds.....

 

 

Sudden Oak Death (SOD) - A major concern in our Neighborhood is not only the loss of trees we value, but also the extreme fire danger posed by dead trees and plants in the 2500 acres of Open Space surrounding the DBCNA area. More on SOD in our area.

 

 

City Planning Dept  - Information on proposed changes in the neighborhood. City contact information.

 

 

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