Committee forwards Castro–Evelyn interim improvement plan to council, asks for more data on usage and outreach

City staff presented a concept design for interim improvements at the Castro Street rail crossing intended to reduce conflicts at the Mountain View Transit Center and to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. After public comment and committee questions, the committee voted unanimously to recommend City Council approve the design concept with additional data and early public outreach.

Joy Houghton, senior civil engineer, told the committee the Transit Center grade separation and access project proposes to "eliminate eliminate the vehicle at grade rail crossing" at Castro Street and to build interim improvements at the crossing while the full grade separation remains unfunded. The concept is organized in three segments: Segment 1 (Evelyn Avenue) would add buffered and separated bikeways, modify signals and remove some parking; Segment 2 (Moffett Boulevard) would convert a southbound bike lane to a class 4 separated bikeway and remove rail preemption at Central Expressway to shorten wait times; Segment 3 (the Castro–Evelyn crossing) would remove northbound vehicular access on Castro, remove crossing gates and widen the remaining pedestrian crossing from 10 to 15 feet.

Staff reported the 35%‑design cost estimate is $6,600,000 and that the project is funded by VTA Measure B funds for final design. Staff said final design is expected in 2026 and construction anticipated in early 2027. The plan included relocatable planter boxes to preserve street trees if a future permanent grade separation is constructed.

BPAC provided recommendations (reported by staff) including keeping both pedestrian crossings in the Caltrain right‑of‑way, anticipating high pedestrian/bike counts, converting the easterly crossing on Evelyn to a diagonal, removing parking between Wild Cherry Lane and Castro, conducting a walk audit with the design team and public, adding northbound bike lane improvements on Moffett, and adding bicycle ramps and signals at the Evelyn Avenue crossings. Staff said elements marked in green on the presentation would be incorporated and others would be further evaluated with CTC feedback and Caltrain and county coordination.

Committee members pressed staff for origin/destination and peak‑period counts for the 1,700 pedestrians and 800 bicyclists cited in the presentation so they could understand circulation and how much of the use is to/from the transit center versus downtown. Staff said counts were taken at the tracks (24‑hour counts) and that some destination data may be available in the original transit center master plan; staff committed to providing additional breakdowns in the materials to council.

The committee also asked staff to pursue education and enforcement partnerships for e‑bike safety in schools and to coordinate with police on outreach. Members asked for clarity about parking trade‑offs and for an evaluation of bus turning movements (buffers and vertical delineators are proposed where buses swing around s‑curves).

After multiple public commenters supported BPAC recommendations and urged no‑right‑on‑red at specific intersections, committee member Kamei moved — and the committee seconded — a recommendation that City Council approve the design concept, include early strategic public input, and consider that interim improvements may become semi‑permanent; the motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: staff will compile the requested data, incorporate BPAC/CTC feedback, and forward the design concept and supporting data to City Council for action.