Alleviate Traffic Problems

By Peter A. Breen

The resolution of our traffic problems takes a multi-faceted approach that reaches beyond out town limits.

While we all notice distinct "relief" during the summer months when school is out, the problem remains. Why cannot we simply just fix it? First and foremost, San Anselmo sits in the middle of the "pipeline" known as Drake Blvd... The pipeline receives over 30,000 cars a day from far off places like Petaluma, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Richmond, and other places outside of Marin County. Drake is the "alternate" route for many North Bay commuters, which include many of our own school teachers, public safety personnel, and other service workers that we depend upon.

Regional "fixes" like the opening of the San Rafael "gap closure" currently underway and the widening of the Novato Narrows will help a lot. The planned commuter rail will help. I have the privilege of representing The Ross Valley as a voting member of the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) and also sit on the SMART commuter rail board.

At the local lever, we are in the middle of enlisting all of our San Anselmo schools in the Safe Routes To School Program (SR2S) program which is designed to provide children with "safe" routes to school, routes that encourage parents to let their children walk, thus reducing school commuter trips thru the Ross Valley. A goodexample of this effort is the $600,000 sidewalk project nearing completion on Butterfield Road.

The sum of all these efforts, and the work of our own "traffic Safety" committee represent both a local and a regional approach to the alleviation of our traffic problems here in San Anselmo. I support the town continuing with this approach, as alone we will simply be stuck "at the Hub."