Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Traffic Lights To Be Resynced

LARKSPUR, CA – Thirteen traffic signals will be resynchronized in mid-April along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Larkspur, Greenbrae and Kentfield as part of a joint-agency effort and in an attempt to reduce travel times and boost safety, according to Marin County officials.

The last time the signals were synchronized was 2012.

The County of Marin Department of Public Works, the City of Larkspur and the California Department of Transportation received a Program for Arterial System Synchronization (PASS) grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission that will be utilized to improve traffic- signal timing on East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard between Larkspur Landing Circle and Elm Avenue -- a 2.5-mile stretch driven by more than 40,000 vehicles each day.

The project includes synchronizing 13 traffic signals, nine under county jurisdiction, two under Larkspur’s jurisdiction and two operated by Caltrans, officials said.

“Traffic volumes and patterns have changed since (2012) as the region recovered from the recession,” said Bob Goralka, DPW principal civil engineer. “Traffic synchronization will better manage the traffic flow, reduce the number of traffic stops and improve travel times for motorists traversing the corridor.”

The work is scheduled to begin April 11 and could take up to two weeks to complete, the county said. New “Traffic Signal Timing Ahead” signs will be installed prior to the work to alert motorists of the changes, and the signs will remain in place while traffic signal timings are implemented, monitored and adjusted over the next three months.

County officials noted that the signal-synchronization work is separate from the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard rehabilitation project that is scheduled to begin in spring 2020 with installation of a new main water line.

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