Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway Project

Project typeTraffic and Transportation
Project value$3,580,679
Completion DateAugust 01, 2026

Project Description

The Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway will provide a comfortable off-street bicycle route linking the Stanford Perimeter trail, Palo Alto Unified School District, the Castilleja-Park-Wilkie bicycle boulevards to downtown Palo Alto and Caltrain. These connections are of local and regional significance. Completing a missing link in a shared-use path will invite new bicycle travel, with associated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic congestion. This project also includes safety improvements at the intersection of El Camino Real and Churchill Avenue as well as Churchill Avenue and Castilleja Avenue where many school students cross.

Scope of Work

Extend existing bicycle path on Churchill Ave from Castilleja to the Stanford Perimeter Trail
Add high visibility crosswalks at Castilleja
New lighting and curb improvements at Castilleja
New crosswalk at Madrono
Restriping and repaving on Churchill
Landscaping/tree planting along school frontage
Remove pork chop island - Add a right turn only storage lane on westbound Churchill to northbound El Camino Real
Enhanced bicycle and pedestrian crosswalks at all 3 crossings of intersection of El Camino Real

Project Background

The Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway is a Council-approved project and was identified as priority project in the Trails and Shared Use Pathways element of the City's 2012 Bicycle + Pedestrian Transportation Plan(PDF, 19MB). The project was on hold due to streetlight equipment procurement delays, which have since been resolved.

Project Status

Construction is anticipated to restart on Monday, June 8, 2026, in order to expedite safety improvements at the Churchill and Castilleja intersection.

Upcoming Work

Flashing Beacon Preparation and Concrete Installation

The contractor will begin installing conduit runs and performing concrete work at the Churchill-Castilleja intersection. Work includes laying conduit and electrical lines for new crosswalk pedestrian flashing beacons, as well as reconstruction of curb ramps and installation of a new curb extension on the east side of Churchill. This initial phase is anticipated to take approximately 4 weeks to complete and only includes electrical equipment and concrete work at this intersection.

Remaining project improvements are scheduled to take place later this summer.

Noise and traffic delays are to be expected during construction hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Churchill Avenue Traffic Control Plans(PDF, 6MB)

Project Timeline

March 2014 to June 2018

City awarded contract to Sandis Engineering for design of the Project. City began outreach to the community and related partners: PAUSD, Stanford and Caltrans. City began 65% design plans.
July 2018

Project was placed on hold due to staffing shortages in the Office of Transportation.
November 2019

City restarted 65% project design.
January 2021 to May 2021

City scheduled meetings to provide updates to the School Board, Stanford, PABAC, the City School Traffic Safety Committee and the Community.
June 2021 to June 2022

Project on hold.
June 2022 to September 2023

Complete 100% design plans and complete final construction documents.
Spring/Summer 2025

Begin construction of the project.
Summer 2026

Complete construction of the project.