It was exciting to tell my clients, who were just closing on the purchase of their Mill Valley home, that the public steps just next to their new home were about to go through a major overhall.

The Mirabel Lane Steps, part of the network of 270 Steps, Lanes & Paths of Mill Valley, will be one of the 6 paths to go through a major upgrade. These walkways are used by residents as an easy way to get to town and public transportation. (Of course, they also provide emergency routes if necessary.) In the past, it has primarily been up to a volunteer group, led by Victoria Talkington, to maintain many of these paths.

This group gets together to work on a couple paths a year (see prior post). This year, however, thanks to the Federal Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program, Mill Valley has been granted approximately $1 million to upgrade 6 paths, which include Alcatraz Lane, Magee Lane, Marion Lane, Mirabel Lane, Molino Avenue and Wainwright Way.

The city of Mill Valley started receiving construction bids two weeks ago and looks forward to starting the work in September.

Image courtesy of MarinScope