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Council narrows South Palo Alto crossing options, directs staff to develop El Dorado underpass (preference for A2)
Summary
After reviewing eight conceptual alternatives, the council directed staff to focus evaluations on Alternative A for a grade‑separated crossing in South Palo Alto and signaled a preference for variant A2 (a full underpass beneath both the railroad and Alma Street) while preserving additional design work and neighborhood analysis.
The Peralta City Council on Dec. 1 directed staff to concentrate further work on one conceptual alternative for South Palo Alto bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and signaled a preference for a grade‑separated underpass that would pass beneath both Caltrain tracks and Alma Street.
Charlie Cole, senior transportation planner, presented eight preliminary conceptual alternatives developed to identify potential grade‑separated bicycle and pedestrian crossings in the southern part of the city. Staff described the evaluation criteria—anticipated demand (accounting for 2031 population and mode shift), parcel impacts, constructability and personal‑security considerations—and recommended advancing Alternative A (a connection between El Dorado Avenue and Park Boulevard via a tunnel and a signalized crossing across Alma) with an engineered variant A2 that would fully grade separate Alma and the tracks.
Rail‑committee members and multiple public commenters supported Alternative A/A2 primarily because the option minimizes residential parcel acquisitions and ties into planned connections (including the former Fry property and ballpark path) and new housing in the NV‑Cap area. Several residents urged that the chosen crossing be constructed before major grade‑separation construction at Meadow or Charleston to preserve safe school routes.
Other residents warned about constraints on specific east‑side streets (El Dorado is narrow in places and has cul‑de‑sacs), and several asked staff to examine Loma Verde (Alternative B) and other options for safety and directness. Staff and consultants said conceptual right‑of‑way overlays show partial parcel impacts for some alternatives and that further design and constructability analysis will refine parcel impacts and grading options.
After discussion, Councilmember Burt moved and the council voted to direct staff to focus the next phase of evaluation on Alternative A with a preference for variant A2. The motion carried in roll‑call vote with recusal and absence noted; staff said they will return with 15% conceptual designs, parcel‑impact refinements, cost estimates, and options for minimizing property impacts.
"We should accelerate getting one of these done and get it in place before some large grade‑separation construction starts," Councilmember Burt said, noting the long stretch of the city without a safe crossing. Council members asked staff to analyze East‑side connection options (El Dorado, El Carmelo or alternate alignments), quantify traffic and constructability tradeoffs and report back on timelines and costs.
