Marin Planners Kick Off Tam Junction Improvement Project

County seeks public input on priorities for traffic, pedestrian safety, and flood mitigation in unincorporated neighborhood.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:42pm

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An extremely blurred and abstracted street scene with indistinct shapes of cars, pedestrians, and buildings in warm, earthy tones, conceptually representing the complex issues facing the Tam Junction neighborhood.As Marin County embarks on a comprehensive planning effort for Tam Junction, the area's mix of traffic, pedestrians, and flood risks presents both challenges and opportunities to create a more livable, sustainable community.Mill Valley Today

Marin County officials held the first of two public forums this week to gather input from residents on priorities for improving the Tam Junction and Manzanita areas. The county is looking to address long-standing issues around traffic congestion, pedestrian and cyclist safety, and flooding from sea level rise in the unincorporated neighborhood.

Why it matters

Tam Junction serves as a key gateway to coastal West Marin, Mount Tamalpais State Park, and Muir Woods, leading to chronic traffic and congestion issues. The area also faces increasing flood risks from rising seas, requiring coordinated solutions to protect the community. This planning process aims to balance the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors to create a more livable, sustainable, and resilient neighborhood.

The details

County planners are kicking off a comprehensive planning effort for Tam Junction and the adjacent Manzanita area, which has not seen major improvements in over 30 years. The goal is to develop a scope of work and hire a consultant team by late 2026 to identify and design desired infrastructure upgrades, seek community consensus on priorities, and explore potential funding sources.

  • The first public forum was held on April 3, 2026.
  • The next forum is scheduled for April 15, 2026 at the Tamalpais Community Services District board meeting.

The players

Stephanie Moulton-Peters

Marin County Supervisor who spoke at the initial public forum.

Sarah Jones

Head of the Marin County Community Development Agency.

Kristin Drumm

Marin County's project manager for the Tam Junction planning effort.

Lawrence Kaplan

Tam Junction resident who emphasized the need to focus on pedestrian/cyclist safety, traffic, and flooding.

Ian Kenny

Tam Junction resident who called for continuous sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and ADA-compliant infrastructure.

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What they’re saying

“We're here tonight to start this process with you. To take your comments, your interests, your desires and values in as we start to formulate a scope of work; to work with our county planning department and all of you to create a street and a business area that works for everyone.”

— Stephanie Moulton-Peters, Marin County Supervisor

“This is really about placemaking, which is a word that we're starting to use at the county. And what it means is the co-creation of a physical place and community environment, community setting, that really supports the kind of lifestyle, the kind of amenities, the kind of togetherness that makes a community great.”

— Sarah Jones, Head of Marin County Community Development Agency

“I say focus — focus on safe streets, overwhelming traffic and flooding. These three issues … are more important than anything else.”

— Lawrence Kaplan, Tam Junction Resident

“My really specific asks are continuous sidewalks and safe crossings, protected bike lanes and ADA-compliant Coyote Creek Bridge replacement, a hard look at repurposing underutilized west side parking.”

— Ian Kenny, Tam Junction Resident

What’s next

The county aims to create a scope of work and hire a planning consultant by late 2026. That consultant's team would then embark on an extensive effort to identify and begin designing desired improvements, seek consensus on priorities, and suggest possible funding sources.

The takeaway

This planning process for Tam Junction represents a critical opportunity to address long-standing issues around traffic, pedestrian/cyclist safety, and flood risk in a coordinated manner. By incorporating robust community input, the county can develop a vision that balances the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors to create a more livable, sustainable, and resilient neighborhood.