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Connecting Palo Alto: Rail Program Master List of Ideas – Initial Screening

This document presents a master list of ideas for potential changes to existing rail crossings in Palo Alto, focusing on intersections such as Charleston, Meadow, Churchill, and Alma. The goal is to improve safety, eliminate train horn noise, and enhance traffic flow. The list includes options for road closures, rail under/over road configurations, hybrid solutions, and grade separation projects. Pros and cons are outlined for each alternative, considering factors such as traffic impacts, property impacts, noise, utility impacts, and construction impacts.

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Connecting Palo Alto: Rail Program Master List of Ideas – Initial Screening

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  1. Connecting Palo Alto: Rail ProgramMaster List of Ideas – Initial Screening City Council Rail Committee March 21, 2018

  2. Potential Changes to Existing Crossings INTERSECTIONS Charleston Meadow Churchill Palo Alto No Build / Do Nothing Closure Road Under Rail Road Over Rail Hybrid Rail Under Road Rail Over Road Alma Below Grade Alma at Grade Closed to Vehicles Only; Pedestrians & Bicycles OK Closed to All Traffic Independent of Alma Connects to Alma

  3. Types of Crossing Modification Sample location: North California Avenue, Palo Alto • Road Closure at Tracks • Close City Road that crosses RR Property • Fence RR Property • Modify Alma intersection • Reroute traffic to other crossings • Pros: • Increased safety • Eliminate train horn • Traffic reduced on/near closed road • Alma traffic improved • Low cost • Low property impacts • Cons: • Increased traffic on/near other crossings • Longer routes for bikes/peds • More vehicle trips

  4. Types of Crossing Modification Sample Location: Jefferson Ave, Redwood City • Lower Road/Ped/Bikes under Tracks • Change local road profile to go under tracks • Bike/Ped under RR – higher than road • Retaining Walls parallel to road • Train crosses over road on bridge – same elevation. • Lower Alma to local road elevation • Pros: • Increased safety • Eliminate train horn • Improved traffic flow on grade separated street • Cons: • Increased traffic on local road(s) • Increased noise from vehicles • Property impacts • Potential impact to street system • Utility Impacts

  5. Types of Crossing Modification Sample Location: Scott Boulevard, Santa Clara • Raise Road/Ped/Bikes over Tracks • Change local road profile to go over tracks • Bike/Ped follow road profile • Retaining Walls parallel to road • Train crosses under road on existing ground • Alma crosses under local road • Cons: • Increased traffic on local road(s) • Increased noise from vehicles • Property impacts • Local street connections lost • Utility Impacts • Pros: • Increased safety • Eliminate train horn • Improved traffic flow

  6. Types of Crossing Modification Sample Location: Holly Street, San Carlos • Hybrid – Lower Road/Ped/Bikes and Raise Tracks • Change local road profile to go under tracks • Bike/Ped higher than road profile • Retaining Walls parallel to road & parallel to tracks • Train crosses over road at higher elevation • Alma lowered to elevation of local road • Pros: • Increased safety • Eliminate train horn • Improved traffic flow • Reduced property impacts from other alternatives • Cons: • Increased traffic on local road(s) • Increased noise from vehicles and train travel • Property impacts • Utility Impacts

  7. Types of Crossing Modification Sample Location: E Compton Boulevard, Compton (Alameda Trench Corridor) • Lower Railroad Tracks under Local Road • Change RR profile to go under local road • Bike/Ped stay at road elevation • Retaining Walls parallel to tracks • Road crosses over RR tracks on bridge • No impact to Alma (after construction) • Pros: • Increased safety • Eliminate train horn and reduce travel noise • Improved traffic flow • Few property impacts (after construction) • Cons: • Increased traffic on local road(s) • Increased noise from vehicles • Utility Impacts • Major construction Impacts

  8. Types of Crossing Modification Sample Location: BART Central Contra Costa Viaduct, Contra Costa • Elevate Railroad Tracks over Local Road • Change RR profile to go over local road • Bike/Ped stay at road elevation • Retaining Walls parallel to road • Train crosses over road on elevated tracks • No impact to Alma (after construction) • Pros: • Increased safety • Eliminate train horn and reduce travel noise • Improved traffic flow • Few property impacts (after construction) • Cons: • Increased traffic on local road(s) • Increased noise from vehicles • Substantial visual impacts • Utility Impacts • Major construction Impacts

  9. Mission for 2018 4 - 8 Alternatives for Study (June) 34 Ideas Initial Screening of 34 Ideas (Begins today) 1 Preferred Solution (December)

  10. Community Engagement • Connecting Palo Alto website www.cityofpaloalto.org/connectingpaloalto • On-line questionnaire with 800 responses • Held 2 Community Workshops, with 228 attendees • Held 4 Community Roundtables, with 381 attendees • Held 13 Rail Committee meetings • Collected 63 public comments / inquiries • Built a database of interested stakeholders • Produced Connecting Palo Alto e-newsletter • Posted extensively on social media

  11. Master List of Ideas • Community Engagement produced 40 grade separation ideas • Examples: • Close Palo Alto Avenue crossing and connect Alma Street to Alma Street in Menlo Park • Citywide railroad under roadway trench within existing railroad right-of-way from Menlo Park city limits to Mountain View city limits with two new depressed rail stations

  12. Refining Process for Decisions • Tier 1 Criteria: Most Important • East-West connectivity: facilitate movement across the corridor for all modes of transportation • Traffic congestion: reduce delay and congestion for automobile traffic at rail crossings • Ped/Bike circulation: provide clear and safe routes for pedestrians and bicyclists seeking to cross the rail corridor, separate from automobile traffic • Rail operations: support continued rail operations and Caltrain service improvements • Cost: finance with feasible funding sources • Tier 2 Criteria: Also Important • Environmental impacts: reduce rail noise and vibration along the corridor • Environmental impacts: minimize visual changes along the rail corridor • Local access: maintain or improve access to neighborhoods, parks, schools and other destinations along the corridor while reducing regional traffic on neighborhood streets • Cost: minimize right-of-way acquisition by eminent domain • Construction: minimize disruption and the duration of construction Technical Financial Adopted by City Council September 6, 2017 Property Construc- tion

  13. Refining Process for Decisions Technical Financial Tier 1: Facilitate movement Reduce delay and congestion Provide safe ped / bike routes Support rail operations Tier 1: Finance with feasible funding sources Tier 2: Reduce rail noise Minimize visual changes Maintain or improve local access Property Construction Tier 2: Minimize right-of-way acquisition Tier 2: Minimize disruption and duration

  14. Evaluation Criteria with Sample Ideas ✔= Feasible X= Possibly Feasible X= Not Feasible Standard Scoring: = Highest weight = Middle weight = Lowest weight Fatal Flaw Scoring:

  15. Results of Initial Screening

  16. Results of Initial Screening – Closure Ideas PCE:Palo Alto Ave Closed, Everett Bike/Ped PCU: Palo Alto Ave Closed, Widen University CAE:Churchill Ave Closed, Widen Embarcadero CAS: Churchill Ave Closed, Seale Ave Bike/Ped MDL: Meadow Dr Closed, Loma Verde Bike/Ped Road Closure at Tracks: North California Avenue, Palo Alto

  17. Results of Initial Screening – Hybrid Ideas PAH: Palo Alto Ave Hybrid CAH: Churchill Ave Hybrid MCL: Meadow + Charleston Hybrid, Loma Verde Bike/Ped MCH: Meadow + Charleston Hybrid MDH: Meadow Dr Hybrid CRH: Charleston Rd Hybrid Hybrid (Road Under Rail): Holly Street, San Carlos

  18. Results of Initial Screening – No Build Ideas PAN:Palo Alto Ave No Build, Safety Upgrades CAN:Churchill Ave No Build, Safety Upgrades MDN: Meadow Drive No Build, Safety Upgrades No Build: Safety Improvements, e.g. Quad Gates, Redwood City

  19. Results of Initial Screening – Rail Under Road Ideas MCT: Meadow + Charleston Trench MCX: Meadow Closed, Charleston Trench Rail Under Road (Trench): Alameda Trench Corridor, Compton

  20. Connecting Palo Alto: Rail ProgramMaster List of Ideas – Initial Screening City Council Rail Committee March 21, 2018

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