California Park, California

California Park is an unincorporated community in Marin County, California, United States, and a suburb of San Rafael. It lies north of San Quentin State Prison. Marin Sanitary Service is the largest tenant in the area.

The community is in ZIP code 94901 and area codes 415 and 628.

Cal Park Hill Tunnel

[edit]
Cal Park Hill Tunnel
Southern portal of the Cal Park Hill Tunnel, November 2018
Overview
LocationCalifornia Park, California
Coordinates37°57′03″N 122°30′37″W / 37.950701°N 122.510368°W / 37.950701; -122.510368
StartCalifornia Park
EndLarkspur
Operation
Opened1884 (1884)
Closedc. 1960s
Rebuilt1924
Reopened2010 (pedestrian path)
2019 (rail)
OwnerSonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit
OperatorSonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit
Charactersingle bore parallel rail/pedestrian pathway tunnel
Technical
Length1,106 feet (337 m)
No. of tracks1 (formerly 2)
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Cal Park Hill Tunnel runs for 1,106 feet (337 m) through the hill to Larkspur.[1] It opened in 1884 and was a double-track train tunnel owned by Northwestern Pacific Railroad.[1] Train service stopped in the 1960s.[1] It is now owned by Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART).[1] After a $27-million project, jointly funded by SMART and Marin County, half of the tunnel reopened on December 10, 2010, as a bicycle and pedestrian path.[1] Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit uses the other half to connect the line from downtown San Rafael to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.[1] Originally estimated to cost $4 million,[2] the tunnel was rehabilitated for pedestrian access at a cost of $28 million in 2010; additionally the rail line was extended from its temporary terminal at San Rafael Transit Center at a cost of $55.4 million.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Whiting, Sam (December 8, 2010). "Marin bicyclists get San Rafael-Larkspur tunnel". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "Marin IJ Editorial: Cost is big obstacle for bike tunnel". Marin Independent Journal. January 22, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  3. ^ Fracassa and Whiting (December 13, 2019). "Sonoma-Marin train line debuts Larkspur Station and easier trips to and from city". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 14, 2019.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]