By Adrian Rodriguez | [email protected] | Marin Independent Journal
PUBLISHED: May 24, 2026 at 12:57 PM PDT | UPDATED: May 25, 2026 at 9:07 PM PDT
San Rafael officials have taken another step to advance a long-planned bridge linking the Canal neighborhood to transit and destinations to the north.
The City Council has authorized a $1.8 million contract with Mark Thomas and Co. Inc. for a preliminary design, a feasibility study and environmental analysis. The agreement includes a $181,500 contingency for unexpected costs.
A grant will cover about $1.57 million of the cost, and gas tax revenue the rest.
“This feasibility and environmental phase is an important next step in determining what it would take to make the Canal crossing project reality,” Mayor Kate Colin said. “The vision of a more connected community has been part of our planning efforts for years and this work will help us better understand the opportunities, challenges and long-term path forward.”
The bridge for pedestrians and cyclists was first proposed in a community transportation plan that was approved by the city in 2006. The project was proposed as a way to provide a better connection for residents of the Canal neighborhood to the Montecito Shopping Center, San Rafael High School and San Pedro Elementary School.
The only route for cyclists and pedestrians to get from the neighborhood to such sites is Francisco Boulevard East to the Grand Avenue bridge, which for some adds 20 minutes of travel time.
In 2022, the city adopted an updated transportation plan that identified the bridge as one of 11 projects to pursue as part of a five-year strategy.
Early last year, the city announced it received a $1.575 million grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to conduct a study and preliminary design of the bridge.
In June, the city authorized a $3.35 million purchase agreement for a 1.65-acre property for a new city park and the base for the proposed bridge. The site is at 620 Canal St. along the San Rafael Creek.
The city committed $500,000 of city funds toward the acquisition. Marin County supervisors approved $1.35 million in Measure A tax revenue toward the effort in September. The acquisition, which was led by the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit organization, collected donations to fill the funding gap.
The purchase was finalized in November.
“The Canal community is one of the most densely populated areas in Marin County, yet it lacks the urban greenspace common in other parts of the city and throughout Marin,” said April Miller, the city’s director of public works. “The project will help address this disparity by creating a welcoming public waterfront park that provides space for recreation, community gathering, and access to nature for thousands of residents.”
Another goal of the project is to support broader community priorities, including public health, resiliency and safe mobility, Miller said.
“The proposed bridge would provide a safe and accessible connection between the Canal neighborhood and the greater San Rafael area, significantly improving safety and accessibility for residents,” Miller said.
Canal Alliance, a nonprofit serving the immigrant community and the Canal neighborhood, is going to work as a “subconsultant” on the plan, said Omar Carrera, chief executive officer.
Carrera said the nonprofit engages residents to help shape the decisions that affect their daily lives.
“When residents’ lived experience is paired with strong engineering and planning expertise, the result is better projects — ones that respond to real needs, earn community trust and move more smoothly from design to implementation,” he said. “That combination ultimately leads to stronger outcomes for both the city and the community.”
“As consultants on the feasibility study, Canal Alliance’s role will be to center resident voices in shaping plans, and align this work with our ongoing, resident-driven planning through Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro, ensuring engagement is coordinated, actionable and respectful of residents’ time and expertise,” Carrera said.
Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro, which translates to “Our Canal, Our Future,” is a group that formed under the auspices of the Canal Alliance to ensure that residents are part of planning process for projects involving transit, sea-level rise, safety, health and housing.
The bridge must allow for boats to pass through on the creek. The feasibility study would identify and compare potential bridge options, costs and impacts, according to the plan.
“These early efforts will help define a range of feasible alternatives for further consideration,” Miller said. “Once we have developed a range of alternatives, we will open public engagement so community members can weigh in on real, viable concepts rather than hypothetical ideas. Outreach will happen in phases, starting with initial stakeholder coordination and expanding to broader community engagement as the project takes shape.”
Miller said that cost estimates will be refined through the study. However, based on preliminary assumptions and comparable projects, the total cost is expected to be around $40 million. That would cover the cost of the bridge, the park infrastructure and street improvements.
The city is pursuing several grant opportunities for both the design and construction of the park and bridge, Miller said.
