Business

Revised Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Lighting Moves Forward

The completed $18 million Upgrade the Drake project was the most significant improvement effort in 25 years for Drake Boulevard between Highway 101 and the Town of Ross. In addition to repairing and paving the heavily used 2.2-mile stretch of roadway and implementing improvements such as revised lane configurations and drainage, the work also included numerous safety upgrades and long-term underground utility updates.

Published

4 years ago

April 24, 2022

Oakland Post

A selection of streetlight poles and fixtures along approximately one third of a 2.2-mile stretch of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard will be replaced with shorter, decorative poles and dimmer fixtures.

Dimmer light fixtures and decorative poles planned due to community feedback

Courtesy of Marin County

The Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) is in the process of revising the street lighting along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard between the Town of Ross and Highway 101. The lighting update project would address the enhanced street lighting that was installed during the Upgrade the Drake project, which was completed in November 2021.

In response to community concerns, the proposed lighting project is intended to reduce light dispersal on adjacent properties, decrease light intensity and improve aesthetics while still maintaining the lighting uniformity levels necessary for public safety along Drake Boulevard. Statistically, uniform nighttime street lighting improves safety for all modes of transportation.

The Marin County Board of Supervisors will consider approving the project to replace median light poles between Eliseo Drive and Manor Road at the April 19 public meeting at the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 330, in San Rafael. The Board will consider moving forward with purchasing decorative light poles, which would cost an estimated $300,000, as well as putting the construction contract out to bid for the lighting update installation project.

To keep the cost as low as possible, the decorative poles would be ordered directly from the distributor and DPW plans to reuse the pole foundations already installed wherever possible. The streetlight revisions are being funded by the remaining budget of the Upgrade the Drake project and the Marin County Street Light Fund. To further offset the cost, DPW plans to explore resell opportunities for the currently installed street light poles, which are a standard pole design used across California.

The new median lighting would replace light poles and fixtures along approximately one third of the 2.2-mile corridor with shorter, decorative poles and dimmer fixtures. It should be noted that the shorter, decorative poles with the dimmer fixtures will require closer spacing to achieve sufficient light levels and uniformity on the roadway, resulting in a net increase in total lights.

The proposed pole replacements are expected to begin construction before the end of 2022, but the timing hinges on when the new decorative poles are available. The poles require significant manufacturing lead time, taking approximately six months to be fabricated and delivered. Pending the Board decision at the April 19 meeting, moving forward with placing the pole order in advance of awarding a construction contract will help expedite the potential future project.

In January 2022, DPW replaced lighting fixtures at intersections and added backshields to help block light dispersal outside of the roadway and sidewalks. In June, the County will replace all of the remaining light fixtures on existing poles throughout the 2.2-mile corridor. The existing fixtures have a brightness of 12,000 lumens and the replacement fixtures will typically have brightness of 5,000 to 8,000 lumens. Additional backshields will be added to reduce light dispersal outside the roadway when appropriate.

In response to the community reaction in February 2021, when the lighting improvements constructed during the Upgrade the Drake project were initially illuminated, DPW turned off the new median street lighting and began the process of reevaluating the design. Lights at the eight intersections along the project corridor have remained illuminated for safety reasons.

Community members interested in learning more about the proposed lighting project, as well as the separate landscaping project along the corridor, can find the information on DPW’s projects webpage.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

7 days ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC