Grade Crossing Alternatives

Conceptual Alternatives Advancing into 15% Design 

In December 2025, the Palo Alto City Council selected preferred grade separation alternatives for each of the at-grade railroad crossings. These alternatives are advancing into Preliminary Engineering, including 15% design, to support refined cost estimates, constructability evaluation, and technical environmental studies.

The selected alternatives reflect City Council consideration of community input, technical analysis, safety, traffic operations, potential property impacts, construction feasibility, and funding realities.

Churchill Avenue

Selected Alternative: Partial Underpass without Landscape Strip
Bicycle and Pedestrian Crossing: Alma Street Ramp

At Churchill Avenue, City Council selected the Partial Underpass alternative without a landscape strip to advance into 15% design. The Churchill Avenue grade separation would lower vehicle traffic beneath the Caltrain tracks through a partial underpass, while maintaining the tracks at their existing elevation and providing a separate bicycle and pedestrian crossing near Seale Avenue via a tunnel under Alma Street and the railroad tracks.

Vehicular traffic on eastbound Churchill Avenue would descend under the railroad and terminate at a lowered T-intersection with Alma Street, then ascend and return to grade along Alma Street. Because the partial underpass concept does not allow for a connection across Alma Street and the Caltrain corridor, a separate bicycle and pedestrian underpass is being provided from Alma Street near Seale Avenue to Peers Park on the west side of the tracks.

Meadow Drive

Selected Alternative: Hybrid
Construction Concepts to Be Studied: Earthen Berm (“Short Bridge”) and Podium-Style (“Long Bridge”) Column Options

At Meadow Drive, City Council selected the Hybrid alternative to advance into 15% design. The Meadow Drive grade separation would use a hybrid design that raises the rail line and lowers the roadway to separate trains and traffic, improving safety and reducing congestion while minimizing neighborhood and property impacts.

As part of advancing the Hybrid alternative, City Council directed the project team to further evaluate two construction concepts: an earthen berm (“Short Bridge”) option and a podium-style (“Long Bridge”) column option. These concepts will be studied to better understand differences in design, construction approach, cost, and community impacts. The two options were presented at the 3/10 Rail Committee Study Session for initial review and input. 

Charleston Road

Selected Alternative: Underpass with Direct Access Ramp

City Council selected the Underpass alternative with a Direct Access Ramp to advance into 15 % design. This alternative would lower Charleston Road beneath both the railroad tracks and Alma Street while maintaining the tracks at their existing elevation.

The direct access ramp would create an underpass that lowers the roadway beneath the Caltrain tracks and Alma Street, allowing continuous vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian movement without at‑grade train crossings.

City Council Direction on Crossing Prioritization

City Council has directed that Meadow Drive and Charleston Road are prioritized ahead of Churchill Avenue for advancement toward construction, reflecting safety needs, operational considerations, and funding constraints.