Marin Headlands & Fort Baker Transportation Plan: Environmental Document Released

Date: March 26, 2009
Contact: Rich Weideman, [phone]

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan. Implementation of the plan would: fix paved roads that have crumbling pavement and failing culverts; widen most roads 2-4 feet to better handle shared bicycle and automobile use; improve trail conditions and make them more sustainable and efficient; redesign intersections and parking areas to address erosion, and unsafe conditions; increase transit; and provide better way finding for visitors.

This project “addresses an infrastructure need in a way that benefits the environment and park visitors” says Superintendent Brian O’Neill. “These historic roads, built by the military, were not designed to accommodate the present traffic volumes and diverse types of traffic that currently use the roads”.  

The roads, built by the Army between the 1870’s and 1940’s, have not been rehabilitated for over 30 years. In addition to rehabilitating the roadways and infrastructure the plan comprehensively improves access to and within the Marin Headlands and Fort Baker areas of the park for a variety of users including hikers and bicyclists.   

The project is scheduled to begin construction with the first phase (Conzelman, McCullough, Field and East Roads and associated trails and intersections) in spring 2010. Other phases will occur over four or more years as funding becomes available. The road improvements are funded by the Federal Highway Administration in a special appropriation designed for highways located on federal lands. The estimated cost for the road rehabilitation is approximately $27 million.  Short-term road closures may occur during construction.    

The public commented on all aspects of the proposals presented in the Draft EIS. Parts of the plan that received the most public comment were related to the proposal to test Car-Free Days on specific road segments and the collection of parking fees to fund enhanced transit. Biking interests were supportive of the creation of bike lanes and expanded shoulders for safe travel. The collection of parking fees generated both support and opposition. 

To review the full range of actions to be implemented as part of this plan, the public is encouraged to review the plan available on-line at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/goga, or a paper copy available at several locations including the park’s headquarter building in San Francisco (201 Ft. Mason) and local libraries (Marin County Free Library; Mill Valley Public Library; Point Reyes Public Library; San Francisco Main Library; and Sausalito Public Library).  

The National Park Service is mandated to wait 30-days before making a final agency decision. The end of the 30-day no action period will end on April 20, 2009. Questions regarding this project can be directed to Rich Weideman [phone].

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