MTC funding plays key role in opening of Marin's North-South bikeway segment

A new pedestrian/bicyclist path in Marin over Corte Madera Creek connecting community and commuters to the Bay Trail, the Central Marin Ferry Connection, Larkspur Ferry Terminal, SMART passenger rail, local and regional transit and surrounding businesses opened this week.

Fueled by $16.5 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission via Regional Measure 2 dollars, the North-South Greenway Gap Closure Project is part of an effort to create a more extensive non-motorized transportation network in Marin County. Approved by voters in 2004, Regional Measure 2 increased tolls on state bridges by $1 for transportation projects.

MTC also contributed $274,000 in Transit Development Act funds to the project. Caltrans, the Transportation Authority of Marin, and the City of Larkspur were partners in the project.

"The North-South Greenway over Corte Madera Creek is open and better than anticipated!" Tweeted Damon Connolly, MTC Commissioner and Marin Supervisor. "It transforms a hair raising 3.5 ft path into a 12 ft wide multi-modal pathway."

The pathway segment closes a key pedestrian and cyclist gap between the Central Marin Ferry Connector and the existing multi-use paths at the intersection of Old Redwood Highway and Wornum Drive.

This new, first phase begins on the north side of Corte Madera Creek, at the touchdown of the Central Marin Ferry Connector Bridge and ends on Old Redwood Highway in Larkspur. 

A second phase will continue the 12-foot-wide pathway along Old Redwood Highway to the Greenbrae Pedestrian Overcrossing on the east side of US-101. Construction of phase two is expected to begin in spring 2023.