Angela Wong, the city transportation engineer, and consultant Monica Tanner presented the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station pedestrian and bicycle access study on Nov. 20, summarizing two rounds of outreach and concept recommendations intended to improve connections to the Caltrain station and the VTA transit center.

Lede facts: consultants identified six key corridors in the study area and reported outreach that included pop‑ups, a community meeting and nearly 100 online responses in round two; Evelyn Avenue, the parking‑lot connection under Matilda Avenue and California Avenue were among the corridors most frequently cited by riders as important to reach the station.

What was proposed: the concepts ranged from on‑street class 2 lanes and class 3 bicycle boulevards to class 4 protected lanes on Evelyn, a pedestrian scramble at Evelyn and South Francis, raised intersections at station entrances, curb extensions, rectangular rapid‑flashing beacon relocations and improved undercrossing paving and lighting under Matilda. Staff highlighted coordination needs for segments on county right‑of‑way and Caltrain property.

Cost and phasing: consultants provided planning‑level cost ranges per corridor ($100,000–$3.5 million) and a combined estimate of roughly $13.6 million for all proposed improvements. Staff said the study recommends adoption of concept plans as an unfunded project so the city can pursue funding and design if Council directs.

Commissioner concerns and technical constraints: commissioners probed multiple tradeoffs — limited curb‑to‑curb widths that prevent buffered or protected lanes in some locations; emergency‑vehicle turning radii that constrain raised curb elements; whether small traffic circles ("pork chop" islands) meaningfully slow vehicles; pedestrian scramble design and how to protect bike queuing areas from vehicle encroachment; and coordination with VTA regarding bus curb placement and potential conflicts with vertical separators. Staff noted some locations are in county right‑of‑way and would require county approval.

Public comment: Charlene Liu told commissioners she preferred bridges to at‑grade crossings where possible, favored paved, dust‑free surfaces and asked for stronger treatments on Pastoria and the parking‑lot exit to Evelyn.

Outcome: after debate, the commission voted to recommend Alternative 1 (adopt all concept plans) to City Council with three explicit modifications: (1) staff should avoid relying on traffic circles to limit speeds at the specific study intersections and instead evaluate alternate intersection designs and traffic‑calming methods; (2) the proposed changes for Washington Avenue (Corridor 6) should be removed from this study package (the corridor remains in the ATP but would be handled separately); and (3) one corridor (Corridor 2 as discussed) should remain unstriped — i.e., no center or parking lane striping — rather than receive paint-only treatments that could create a deceptive appearance of protection. The roll call vote was recorded in the meeting minutes (motion passed 6–0 with one absent).

Ending: staff will transmit the recommended alternative and BPAC’s modifications to City Council in January and will continue coordinating with Caltrain, VTA and county agencies as any future design, funding and implementation steps proceed.