Community Corner
$7.5M Marin Parking Lot Fix Draws Rebuke From Cycling Advocate
But county officials say the project will "serve both present and future Cultural Services parking and specialized activities."
MARIN COUNTY, CA — A Marin bicycling advocate has taken aim at the county over a $7.5 million parking lot repaving project.
Warren J. Wells, who serves as the Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s policy and planning director, expressed frustration at the expenditure, which he said reflects the prioritization of motorists at the expense of bicycle and pedestrian safety.
The county is tapping its General Fund to pay for the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium Parking Lot Improvements project.
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I love that we're fighting for scraps to fund bike/ped projects, while at the same time Marin County is spending $7,500,000 from the general fund to repave a parking lot. pic.twitter.com/GJQEVUYqXm
— Warren J. Wells, AICP 🚴🏙️🦀 (@WarrenJWells) January 25, 2023
“I love that we're fighting for scraps to fund bike/ped projects, while at the same time Marin County is spending $7,500,000 from the general fund to repave a parking lot,” Wells said in a tweet thread last week.
County officials say community benefits from the project include integration of the SMART train commuter plaza, according to a county description of the project.
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“The Auditorium parking lot currently needs to be resurfaced and modernized to serve both present and future Cultural Services parking and specialized activities,” the county document said.
County officials said the project aims to include the replacement of deteriorating asphalt with a new surface that includes permeable drainage areas and an efficient traffic and parking plan.
“This project will create a final design to integrate the SMART train commuter plaza, the North Campus Improvements, and the Children’s Island Accessibility and path of travel improvements with the newly renovated parking lot area adjacent to the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium entrances,” the county document said.
The project also includes a provision for addition wi-fi coverage and electrical power, new concrete islands, new lighting, and irrigated landscaping areas to support water reclamation.
“I guess the upside is that the money is there, it just needs to be spend in the right way,” Wells said.
“We can't get a single bike lane built without a year of community meetings, but a $7.5M parking lot happens without a peep.”
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