This is a floating closed javascript menu.
Menu


Unconstructed

Post 1964 Legislative Route 251

Click here for a key to the symbols used. An explanation of acronyms may be found at the bottom of the page.


Routing Routing

  1. Rte 251 Seg 1From Route 580 near Point San Quentin to Route 101 near Greenbrae.

    Post 1964 Signage History Post 1964 Signage History

    As initially defined in 1963, this segment was the entire route, and was defined as “Route 101 near Greenbrae to Route 17 near Point San Quentin.”

    In 1984, Chapter 409 reordered this segment and changed "Route 17" to "Route 580".

    In 2002, the Traversable Highways report showed this as "to be improved" in 5 years, but this appears to never have happened. The traversable route is Sir Francis Drake Road. There is a 4-lane section for 1.0 mile, and a 40' section for 0.5 mile. The existing underpass has only a 14' clearance. This is used as a cut-off between US 101 and the Richmond-San Rafael bridge.

    Pre 1964 Signage History Pre 1964 Signage History

    This segment corresponds to pre-1963 LRN 251, defined in 1959. This is one of the few whose sign routes equals their pre-1963 legislative routes.

    Status Status

    This routing is unconstructed. For the US 101 to I-580 segment, the traversable route is Sir Francis Drake Blvd. The remainder of the traversable local routing includes Petaluma Pt. Reyes Road, and Nicasino Valley Road. These roads are not constructed to state standards. There are no plans for Caltrans to adopt this routing. The 2013 Traversable Highways report notes that a county road used as a connection between Route 101
    and Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (interstate to interstate).


  2. Rte 251 Seg 2From Route 101 near San Rafael to Route 1 near Point Reyes Station.

    Post 1964 Signage History Post 1964 Signage History

    In 1984, Chapter 409 added segment (b) as a result of a transfer from Route 17, giving: “(a) Route 580 near Point San Quentin to Route 101 near Greenbrae. (b) Route 101 near San Rafael to Route 1 near Point Reyes Station.”

    Rte 251 Proposed Routings - San Rafael to Nicaiso ValleyIn 1966, results were presented of corridor studies for then Route 17. It notes that the Marin County plan, as of 1961, showed a route approximately in the location of the "C" routing. The West Marin Master Plan showed the state highway through San Rafael, San Anselmo, and Fairfax over White Hill to the San Geronimo Valley and N to Nicasio. The Kentfield Master Plan showed a similar route to West Marin. The San Anselmo Master Plan, dated 1959, showed an alignment along the "B" routing. The San Rafael General Plan of 1966 shows an alignment corresponding to the Central Ridge corridor. The Central Corridor, or "B" routing, is a continuation of existing Route 17 (Route 251) from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. It interchanges with US 101 and proceeds W through San Rafael, S of 4th Street, parallels the Miracle Mile (4th Street and Red Hill Ave) to the Hub Intersection in San Anselmo. It continues westerly through San Anselmo, Fairfax, and over the White Hill Grade, to the San Geronimo Valley, where it swings N to the Nicasio Valley. The "B" route is in an urban area from the Richmond Bridge to Fairfax, and the "C" route is a continuation of the "B" route into the rural area from Fairfax to Nicasio. Another alternative, the Central Ridge, leaves the built-up areas and climbs to the ridge top behind Red Hill... but it does pass over a portion of the Sunny Hills Home for Emotionally Disturbed Children and through the NE portion of the area proposed for a San Anselmo city park.  Another combination of routes investigated combines portions of the Central Ridge and Lucas Valley corridors. The M-4 line is a cross-over between the Ridge Route and the Lucas Valley corridor that bypasses the Sleepy Hollow area as well as the San Geronimo and southerly Nicasio Valley areas.
    (Source: Daily Independent Journal, 11/9/1966, via Joel Windmiller, 2/26/2023)

    In January 1966, the editors of the daily Independent Journal declared that it was “The Time To Pick East-West Marin Route.” The situation was urgent, they argued: there were still no good routes to bring tourists to the planned Point Reyes National Seashore, which was being described as the future “Jones Beach on the Pacific.” In addition, eastern cities of Marin were suffering from congestion, and commute times to San Francisco were increasing rapidly. At the request of the county supervisors, and under pressure from Marin’s representatives in Sacramento, state engineers presented four routing options for then Route 17 (now Route 251) to the county board of supervisors and local city councils in September and October, estimating a range of costs between $37 and $100 million, and posted maps throughout the county for public viewing. Highway commission representatives favored two southerly options, insisting the routes—both of which passed through several cities—would effectively relieve congestion in the east as well as bring visitors and new residents to the west. By mid-November, one of the two favored southerly routes emerged as the most likely candidate. Both would have displaced a significant number of homes, but the residential area most dis- rupted by this route was Sleepy Hollow, an unincorporated community bordering San Anselmo that did not have any authority to stop construction. This route affected the population that was least able to defend itself politically, and precedent suggested that other community members or groups would rally in favor of the option that did not threaten their immediate interests
    (Source: "REVOLT AGAINST SPRAWL: Transportation and the Origins of the Marin County Growth-Control Regime" (paywall), Louise Nelson Dyble, University of Southern California, Journal of Urban History, Vol. 34 No. 1, November 2007, via Anneliese Agren, 11/15/2023)

    There was profound anti-freeway opposition, based on a critique of growth and development that transcended the interests of individuals or even neighborhoods, and emphasized aesthetics and property values. On November 21, 1966, the county supervisors faced the question of routing recommendations. More than three hundred angry and vocal citizens packed a hearing that night. All thirty-three who testified vehemently opposed construction in their neighborhood. It was evident the audience was anti-freeway in any form. After lengthy debate, the supervisors voted 3-2 to request postponement of further consideration of the route pending the development of a “Balanced Transportation Plan” by the county planning commission and the results of an ongoing regional transportation study. This dealt the fatal blow to Route 17 (Route 251). Homeowners associations, civic groups, and real estate associations from around the county announced their opposition to the route in the following weeks. There were promises of further hearings on the freeway, but they never happened. Instead, state engineers ceased their work on an east–west route for Marin.
    (Source: "REVOLT AGAINST SPRAWL: Transportation and the Origins of the Marin County Growth-Control Regime" (paywall), Louise Nelson Dyble, University of Southern California, Journal of Urban History, Vol. 34 No. 1, November 2007, via Anneliese Agren, 11/15/2023)

    Originally, this was to have been the "Point Reyes" Freeway. It was originally part of Route 17 from 1963 to the mid 1980's, when Route 17 was deleted in Marin County as part of the renumber of Route 17 to I-580 and I-880. The Pt. Reyes Freeway was one of many new routes created in the State Freeway and Expressway System, which was approved by the Legislature in 1959. This route has all but been killed by environmental concerns and costs. It would have connected with Route 37.

    Pre 1964 Signage History Pre 1964 Signage History

    This was a proposed (routing determined) segment of Route 17. It was part of LRN 69, defined in 1933. This appears to correspond to Francis Drake Blvd. There is an interchange with several flyover ramps at the junction with US 101; this may have been planning for a future freeway Route 251.

    Status Status

    This routing is unconstructed. For the US 101 to I-580 segment, the traversable route is Sir Francis Drake Blvd. The remainder of the traversable local routing includes Petaluma Pt. Reyes Road, and Nicasino Valley Road. These roads are not constructed to state standards. There are no plans for Caltrans to adopt this routing.

    Naming Naming

    "Point Reyes" Freeway.


Other WWW Links Other WWW Links

Freeway Freeway

[SHC 253.1] Entire route; unconstructed. Added to the Freeway and Expressway system in 1959.

Scenic Route Scenic Route

[SHC 263.8] From Route 37 near Nicasio to Route 1 near Point Reyes Station.

Statistics Statistics

Overall statistics for Route 251:

Pre-1964 Legislative Route Pre-1964 Legislative Route

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 251 as “[LRN 1] near Greenbrae to [LRN 69] near Point San Quentin.” This is one of the few routes that retained the same number post-1963. It is still Route 251.


Acronyms and Explanations:


Back Arrow Route 250 Forward Arrow Route 252

© 1996-2020 Daniel P. Faigin.
Maintained by: Daniel P. Faigin <webmaster@cahighways.org>.