Marin County Road To Become A Safety Corridor With Lower Speed Limits

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Safety for residents, cyclists, and drivers in West Marin took a significant step forward as Marin County Supervisors approved an ordinance at their December meeting to lower the speed limit on San Geronimo Valley Drive — and officially designate it as a safety corridor in response to recent tragic crashes.

Four teenagers were killed in a solo-vehicle collision on San Geronimo Valley Drive in unincorporated Marin County in April.

“The designation is just reducing the radar enforced speed limit, and we would be going from 40 miles per hour, which is currently posted, to 30 miles per hour,” Supervisor Dennis Rodoni told Patch. “Reducing speed is one of the better tools in the toolkit to help enhance safety on our roadways.”

Voices from the community advocated for the change.

“As a bike commuter, I’m forced to ride either on the line or slightly left of the line, which forces a car to go over the double yellow line to pass me, and that’s how I ride,” Marin County resident Vernon Huffman told Patch. “Reducing the speed to 30 would really help me and my fellow bike commuters and improve safety for all for sure.”

Warren Wells, Policy Planning Director for the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, echoed these sentiments

“Speed limits do have an effect on the speed that people drive. It’s not a 100 percent mix, but it does affect it, which reduces the severity and likelihood of collisions,” Wells told Patch. “We do need to look at what else we can do if the lower speed limits alone are not sufficient.”

Supervisors and staff promised to continue evaluating additional improvements for the corridor, aiming to protect both residents and the growing number of cyclists and pedestrians.