Evergreen - Forever Green

01/24/2023

Bioswales.

Throughout the region, older streets and sidewalks and basements were swamped to varying...

09/29/2022

Ideas...

This was an experiment by kindergarten children. They dropped seeds in the crack of the sidewalk to see what would happen.

02/16/2021

01/26/2021

Scientists propose 10 golden rules for restoring forests to maximise benefits for the planet.

11/10/2020

Karma?

06/10/2020

Another reason to advocate for curb free roads...

05/22/2020

not really. It would be a happier day if more of us understood the importance of biodiversity.

04/25/2020

Sound familiar?

Some businesses seeking coronavirus loans got to avoid flaky online portals or backed-up queues. Many other small businesses couldn’t get their loan requests submitted before the money dried up.

04/23/2020

Everything is temporary.

"Mechanical Cops"

In the late 1940’s San Rafael was a growing town with a lot of businesses and an ever-increasing traffic problem. Traffic jams in the downtown area became a common occurrence and in early 1950, San Rafael Police Chief Frank Kelly decided to do something about it.

At that time there were no traffic signal lights in San Rafael and it was believed that lights could do something to help with the heavy traffic. A fund was started by the City to save money so traffic signal lights could be installed in certain heavy use intersections, however saving the money was a slow process and it was finally decided that a temporary measure should be put into place.

In early 1951 the age of the “Mechanical cops” began. These were electronically operated portable traffic lights that could be placed at intersections during times of the day when traffic was heavy. In the early mornings and afternoons, when traffic was at its highest peak, the lights were towed to certain intersections for use and they worked well in controlling congestion.

The first intersection where the portable traffic lights were placed was at Third and Irwin Street. The lights were also placed at Second and Lindaro Street as that was a busy intersection. Finally, after enough money was raised, the first permanent traffic signal light was installed at the intersection of Third and Irwin Street.

In the photo is San Rafael Police Traffic Officer Art Fellows on his three-wheel motorcycle towing those “Mechanical cops” in 1951.

Thanks to retired Corporal Harry Barbier for the SRPD history lesson!