South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Connectivity

• Project typeTransportation Planning
• Project value$499,491

Project Description

The South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Connectivity Project will identify locations and design concepts where two new grade-separated bicycle and pedestrian pathways across the Caltrain corridor may be constructed. Creating a path above or below the tracks in south Palo Alto (south of Oregon Expressway) will improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity in support of the City's mobility and sustainability goals. This Project will engage with the community to select preferred crossing locations, designs, and network improvements, and develop an implementation plan and funding strategy for future construction. 

Project Study Area

Project Status

In September 2024, the City began partnering with Kittelson & Associates, a transportation planning, engineering and research services firm, to assist with the Project. Subsequently, the team completed several tasks, including data collection and analysis, review of background documents, established design priorities and evaluation criteria, conducted the first phase of community engagement, and identified rail crossing alternatives. Because project timelines overlap with those of the concurrent update of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan (BPTP), staff coordinated with the BPTP Update team on community engagement and data collection. 

Project Documents

Project Fact Sheet(PDF, 2MB)

Existing Conditions Report (Updated)(PDF, 12MB)

Draft Design Priorities and Evaluation Criteria Memorandum(PDF, 231KB)

Phase 1 Community Engagement Summary Report(PDF, 15MB) (New!)

Updated Design Priorities and Evaluation Criteria Memorandum(PDF, 241KB) (New!) 

Engagement Opportunities

The team will organize and facilitate community outreach and engagement efforts with the intent to engage residents and key stakeholders and solicit input at various phases of the Project. Community engagement will include a series of workshops, pop-ups, surveys, and other strategies that will be structured to include property owners, residents, businesses, local business employees, representatives of private and public schools, agencies providing services in the area, and visitors. 

Phase 1 of engagement in spring 2025 introduced the Project to the community and gained input on goals, priorities and opportunities for grade-separated bicycle and pedestrian rail crossings. Considering input and feedback from the community, design priorities and evaluation criteria were established and eight rail crossings alternatives were designed for review and feedback during Phase 2 of engagement happening in fall 2025. The goal of Phase 2 is to select two alternatives to progress to 15 percent design (conceptual design), during which the selected alternatives will be further evaluated and refined. Check back here for upcoming meetings and ways to engage.