Climate Adaptation Assessment: Hillsides
Wildfires present the most immediate threat to the health and safety of Corte Madera’s residents, employees, and visitors in the hillside neighborhoods. Corte Madera’s Christmas Tree hillside neighborhood lies in an Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). A significant portion of the hillside neighborhoods are wooded and lie directly within the WUI (based on areas with a high structure density and their proximity to fuels). Evacuation routes are steep, narrow and limited, posing significant challenges for residents during an evacuation and emergency responder access. This is especially true as fires become bigger, hotter, and more severe due to the impacts of climate change.
For more information about the climate vulnerabilities and proposed adaptations for the Hillside area, please view the Hillside chapter of the Adaptation Assessment linked below, and the related FAQs also listed below.
Questions? Email staff at: pwcounter@cortemadera.gov
Lower Christmas Tree Hill Undergrounding and Evacuation Improvement Project
Project Summary
Since the adoption of a resolution declaring a climate emergency in December 2020 and the development of the Town’s Climate Adaptation Assessment (CAA) in May 2021, Town staff have been working towards realizing the goal of improving climate resiliency and enhancing emergency evacuation safety for the lower Christmas Tree Hill neighborhood. The CAA identified the Christmas Tree Hill areas as one with climate-related vulnerabilities, particularly related to wildfires. In response, the Town has been reviewing opportunities and developing strategies to improve public infrastructure used for evacuation access, including select roadway widening to allow for quicker and safer evacuation while also providing opportunities for efficient emergency vehicle response. Additionally, the Town is actively pursuing the undergrounding of overhead electrical lines on a portion of Redwood Avenue and Edison Avenue, utilizing available “credits” through the PG&E Rule 20A program, to provide additional safety enhancements by eliminating the potential for a downed power line to block these critical roadways.
Between December 2023 and July 2026, with the support of their engineering consultant BKF Engineers, the Town completed an initial Community Engagement program and the development of a Preliminary Design for the evacuation improvements. Through various Focus Group meetings with key stakeholders as well as two Community Workshops, Staff introduced the project goals, collected public feedback, commissioned the mapping of the project area, and developed conceptual design alternatives for the evacuation improvements. The Town ultimately moved forward with a Preliminary Design that included undergrounding of overhead utilities and removal of utility poles along a portion of Redwood Avenue and Edison Avenue, widening and restriping of Redwood Avenue between Corte Madera Avenue and Portola Way, and other areas of minor roadway widening at “pinch points” along Redwood Avenue, Edison Avenue, and Morningside Drive. Additionally, ADA accessibility upgrades to the sidewalks and curb ramps along Redwood Avenue, modifications and capacity enhancements to the storm drains and culverts, sewer system rehabilitation, and paving improvements throughout the lower Christmas Tree Hill area have been included in the Preliminary Design.
To minimize the duration of construction impacts, the Town has elected to proceed with the sewer system rehabilitation in advance of the evacuation improvements. Sewer system construction is targeted for 2027/2028. PG&E is currently proceeding with mapping and design to support the undergrounding of their electrical facilities. This process is expected to commence in 2026, with a target construction year of 2029. Following the development of PG&E’s undergrounding design, Town staff will commission the development of a Final Design for the evacuation improvements, including an environmental review and permitting process. This process with include a second phase of Community Engagement, aimed at providing the residents of Christmas Tree Hill with current information about the project while also creating opportunities for residents to share ideas and feedback on the project improvements. Construction of the evacuation improvements is planned to occur following PG&E’s undergrounding work, in year 2030+.
Project Timeline
Past Events
Thanks for joining Town Staff and the Project Team for an essential Virtual Community Workshop focused on the Lower Christmas Tree Hill Undergrounding & Evacuation Improvement Project, on May 14, 2025 from 6:30-8pm. Click on the image to the left or go HERE to watch the recording of the workshop.
You can find recordings and materials of Workshop 1 in November 2024 HERE.