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MIJ\Plans for bicycles on Richmond Bridge slow down
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Jym Dyer
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Mar 03, 2006 20:40 PST
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http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_3562509
Plans for bicycles on Richmond Bridge slow down
By Mark Prado
Marin Independent Journal | 02-Mar-2006 Launched 08:32
With traffic increasing on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and
a projected need for a third lane in each direction, adding a
bicycle lane to the span will be difficult, officials said
Wednesday.
The Bay Area Toll Authority heard a report Wednesday on an
ongoing third study on the issue, but a solution is no more
clear than when the first study concluded in 1998. Bike backers
would like to see space created for bicyclists and pedestrians
for the length of the 4.5-mile span.
"We feel it is absolutely essential to develop a realistic and
cost-effective way to do this," said Eric Anderson of the Marin
County Bicycle Coalition.
But the California Department of Transportation also is studying
the possibility of creating a third bridge lane -- making three
in each direction -- to handle increasing traffic, officials
said. That would squeeze space and make a bike lane difficult.
"Having the six-lane option provides time savings," said Doug
Johnson, project manager for the Richmond San Rafael Bike and
Pedestrian Access study.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission -- the Bay Area
transportation planning agency -- is leading the study.
Currently, about 6,990 vehicles travel west during the peak
morning commute, and that figure is expected to jump to 9,000
in 2025.
If the bridge is kept at two lanes in each direction, it would
take 59 minutes to get from Interstate 80 in the East Bay to
Marin in the year 2025 during the morning commute, according to
MTC figures. With three lanes, the same trip would take 43
minutes, according to MTC numbers. During the evening commute,
the westbound commuter would travel 20 minutes instead of 22
minutes with three lanes.
MTC officials said that in the past five to 10 years, daily
traffic on the bridge has increased from 60,000 to nearly
75,000 cars.
Adding a third lane to the span would help create "increased
storage capacity" for cars as they filter into Marin, Johnson
said.
With a third lane needed, options for a bike lane are limited.
At one point, Caltrans said a separate, detached structure that
would hang from the side of the bridge was the safest approach.
But such a proposal was pegged at $96 million in 1998 and that
was deemed too expensive.
Now, other options are being bandied about, such has erecting
cement barriers -- to carve off the edge of a bridge deck for
bicycle and pedestrian use.
Because three lanes of traffic on the span would be needed only
during peak commute hours, bike lane backers have suggested a
bicycle lane could be dedicated on the top deck with K-rail and
the bottom deck could have traffic flowing in either direction
during peak periods.
Alternatives will be presented in the summer and a resolution to
the issue will come by January, officials said.
"It's important to have this study on track," said Marin
Supervisor Steve Kinsey, chairman of the bridge toll committee.
"But there will be some difficult policy decisions we will have
to make."
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