Political Pressure

For some years, political forces in Marin County have been seeking to relocate San Quentin Prison from its prime piece of real estate. One argument often heard is that it would be cheaper to build a new prison than to upgrade the old buildings. In fact, many of the old unreinforced masonry buildings and concrete structures were built not only before the establishment of building codes in California but before seismic resistance was given much consideration. Currently underway is a "bare bones" seismic upgrade of one of the old cell blocks and the infirmary, but much more may be required.

The political pressure for moving the prison is mounting. Currently, Marin County Supervisors Steve Kinsey and Annette Rose are spearheading a $250,000 study authorized by the state legislature to study the relocation of San Quentin. The first step is to establish another site for California’s one and only "death row." Other functions that would need to be relocated include the reception center for new commitments and the general prison population. Folsom Prison is being suggested as a location, but further joint state-regional studies probably will be required.

Even Supervisor Kinsey admits that "this will be a ten year effort," because many obstacles need to be overcome before the dream of a "World Class Transit Center" at San Quentin becomes reality. In the first place, San Quentin is a large facility, and it will not be easy to relocate its 5,800 inmates.

Even after the inmates have been transferred, there remain the problems of the disposal of the buildings and the transfer of the title to the land. Many competing uses for the land will undoubtedly be proposed, and will need to be sorted out. A determination will also need to be made on how many of the old structures should be preserved as historic structures, and, indeed, whether or not the whole site should become an "historic district," thus impairing its function as a transit terminal.

Then, there is the matter of a railroad connection from San Rafael to the probable site of the transit hub on the south side of the peninsula along Corte Madera Channel. The railroad will involve the acquisition of a right-of-way (since none exists), plus engineering and construction. The probable route of the railroad would be from San Rafael eastward along Interstate 580; however, problems may arise in traversing the bridge approach and San Quentin Village. A shorter, more direct route would require excavating a tunnel under the point where Sir Francis Drake East Blvd. crosses the ridge. It might even prove feasible to use the old tunnel into Larkspur and run the tracks eastward along Corte Madera Channel to the site, but that would involve the same political struggle as currently exists about extending railroad tracks through the old tunnel to Larkspur Landing.

There is also the matter of designing access roads to the site and building parking facilities at the transit hub.

Another significant question that needs to be addressed is what to do with the existing ferry operation at Larkspur Landing. It will certainly require lengthy negotiations, since a good deal of Federal money went into building that terminal.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that it will require considerable effort to move San Quentin Prison. And, even when the prison is relocated, it will require negotiations to acquire a site for the transit terminal, deal with historic preservation questions, and then to put the highway, railroad, and ferry services into operation.