City Council - September 28, 2026

Council advances three grade separations to 35% design

The Palo Alto City Council voted 6-0 to move the Churchill Avenue/Seal Avenue, Meadow Drive and Charleston Road rail grade-separation concepts into 35% design and environmental review. The approved amendment requires staff to evaluate the traffic effects of building the Charleston Road project alone. One council member recused because their home is within 500 feet of the Charleston project area.

The action keeps all three crossings in the grant-funded design process rather than selecting one for construction. Staff said the city and Caltrain are obligated to complete 35% design and environmental work for all three by the end of 2027. The next phase will include visualizations, technical studies, refined property footprints, environmental documents, construction sequencing and updated cost estimates. The council did not authorize construction.

Staff's year-of-expenditure estimates put the Churchill Avenue/Seal Avenue project at $420 million to $450 million, with construction lasting three to four years. Charleston Road alone was estimated at $480 million to $530 million over four years. Building Meadow Drive and Charleston Road concurrently was projected to cost $1 billion to $1.1 billion and take about five years, while sequential construction was estimated at $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion over nine years. Staff estimated that more than $350 million in Measure B funding would remain after prior expenditures toward a grade-separation project.

Much of the debate centered on the Meadow Drive hybrid concept. Commenters urged further study of an underpass and raised concerns about a temporary track along Alma Street, retaining walls, noise, traffic disruption and property impacts. Staff said the hybrid concept had been advanced chiefly because it would avoid full property acquisitions and provide a more accessible pedestrian and bicycle crossing. At Charleston Road, staff identified five potential full property acquisitions during the 15% design phase.

The environmental work is also expected to consider a feasible option for closing Churchill Avenue to vehicles while providing a pedestrian and bicycle undercrossing. Staff cautioned that adding a new 35% design alternative could delay the work and jeopardize grant funding. The Churchill project description is expected to return to the council during environmental review, while engineers will also explore design variances that could reduce property and construction impacts.

Primary sources

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