City of Palo Alto, CA
06/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/27/2024 20:58
Stay on Track: The Latest Rail News
Stay on Track: The Latest Rail News
Published on June 27, 2024
Gain the latest news on the City's rail grade separation discussions underway, including meetings set, ways to share input and next steps.
New! Council Advances Alternatives
At their June 18 meeting, the City Council voted to advance the hybrid (including a mixed wall/column approach) and underpass alternatives for Meadow Drive and Charleston Road. Council's actions advance these alternatives into the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Documentation Phase.
During this phase, design plans will be developed to refine the Churchill, Meadow, and Charleston alternatives to minimize property impacts, enhance bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, plus optimize infrastructure improvements that minimize traffic circle impacts for the Charleston Road Underpass Alternative and complete environmental documentation compliance requirements. Early in the phase, refined design plans will be brought to the City Council to select the preferred alternative for Meadow and Charleston. In addition, Council approved a funding agreement with the Federal Railroad Administration to receive $6 million for this phase.
Previous Updates
On Monday, June 10, after hearing public comment on the rail grade separation alternatives, the City Council advanced the Seale Avenue bicycle and pedestrian crossing as part of the Churchill Partial Underpass Alternative into the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Documentation phase. The Council also decided to keep the closure option as a backup alternative. The Council will consider advancing rail grade separation preferred alternatives for the Meadow Drive and Charleston Road crossings into the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Documentation phase at their June 18 meeting. Staff report links and more details are listed below to learn more about the Council's discussions.
The Council discussions are informed by the various public conversations taken place to date around solutions to increased traffic as Caltrain electrifies and more trains run through the Palo Alto corridor, and what we can do to keep everyone moving and safe. Alternatives for grade separation - making roads crossing the railroad lines pass over or under the tracks - seek to improve traffic circulation and increase public safety. There are seven streets where people and vehicles can cross the railroad tracks in Palo Alto. While three of these intersections - also known as grade crossings - are above the road and already grade separated, there are four remaining that cross the tracks at the same level, posing traffic and safety issues.
Meetings & Materials
Rail Committee: The Rail Committee has met several times to solidify recommendations to advance for Council consideration. Find previous Rail Committee discussions.
City Council: As noted above, the Council met on June 10 to consider Rail Committee recommendations.
- Find the staff report, and related materials at the June 10 Council Agenda, and click Item 13.
- The Council will meet on June 18. Click here and scroll to the June 18 Council meeting for meeting details.
General Summary:
For a summary of the alternatives under consideration and other background, read a recent community update on this important topic.
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