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Cal Park Tunnel heralded by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Posted: 2009-11-16

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), a national advocacy organization that has overseen a trails renaissance in the United States with over 1000 new walking and biking trails built in the last two decades, has written a ringing endorsement of the newly rebuilt Cal Park Tunnel between San Rafael and Larkspur.  Rails-to-Trails featured the tunnel in their November newsletter and highlighted the importance of tunnel in closing a gap that saves cyclists 15 minutes of travel time crossing the Cal Park Hill to reach the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.  Read the full story here: Cal Park Tunnel Nears Completion.

 The Cal Park Tunnel has long been a priority for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's western regional office in San Francisco.   In 2001, the RTC issued their Tunnels on Trails report, made possible thanks to a $100,000 grant from from Marin County.  The study investigated tunnel design and the cost of construction and rehabilitation, and found that tunnels offer tremendous value to communities when they are used to complete gaps in the walking and biking transportation network.  The Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Project has enabled Marin County to close these gaps by providing the funding necessary to overcome difficult obstacles like the Cal Park Hill.  Laura Cohen, RTC's Western Regional Director, said the Cal Park Tunnel "will be a showcase rail-with-trail project."

With the tunnel pathway scheduled for paving next month with with other compenents of the project wrapping up next summer, the RTC and other groups are already beginning to celebrate the completion of the Cal Park Tunnel.



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