San Rafael Adds Protected Left Turn Signals

San Rafael completed installation of protected left turn signals at three intersections in April 2026 to reduce conflicts between turning vehicles and pedestrians.

The city added the signals at Civic Center Drive and North San Pedro Road/San Pablo Avenue, Point San Pedro Road and Loch Lomond Drive/Lochinvar Road, and Manuel T. Freitas Parkway and Las Gallinas Avenue.

The work included installing additional signal heads with left turn arrows and adjusting signal timing. Previously, drivers could turn left during a solid green light or flashing yellow arrow after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Protected left turns restrict the movement to green arrow signals only, eliminating the conflict point where left-turning vehicles cross paths with pedestrians in the crosswalk.

City staff selected these three locations after reviewing feedback submitted through the SeeClickFix reporting system and determined they could accommodate the signals without major reconstruction of existing traffic equipment.

San Rafael will monitor the intersections and review additional reports through SeeClickFix for future improvements. Residents can submit traffic concerns through the system.