Planning & Transportation Commission - November 12, 2025

Commission unanimously backs 10-year bike and pedestrian plan

The Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commission voted 7-0 to recommend that the City Council adopt the draft 2026 Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan Update. The citywide plan sets a 10-year strategy and identifies 104 low-stress network projects, 16 near-term projects and 23 crossing projects.

Staff estimated construction of the 16 near-term bicycle projects at $12.8 million. The plan emphasizes low-stress residential routes, reflecting prior City Council direction to favor bike boulevards over major arterials when parallel alternatives are available.

During their review, commissioners requested refinements involving school-route safety and parking on El Camino Way, connections near San Antonio Road and Fabian Way, access and wayfinding around California Avenue, and analysis of traffic diversion and project performance. Staff said individual projects would still proceed through capital-improvement scoping, design, engineering and community engagement.

The public-comment period was scheduled to close at the end of November 14. The City Council is scheduled to review the draft at a December 1 study session, after which staff plans to prepare a final plan for adoption in early 2026.

Palo Alto Link’s future remains unresolved after cost debate

The commission made no formal recommendation on whether to continue Palo Alto Link beyond June 30, 2026. Staff will instead convey commissioners’ individual views to the City Council as the city considers a service that costs an estimated $1.2 million annually, or about $26 per trip.

Staff reported that Link had provided 137,000 rides since its March 2023 launch through the end of October. The service operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., charges a standard $4 fare and a discounted $2 fare, and averages about 3.1 rides per service hour. Stanford Research Park contributes about 35% to 45% of monthly service costs, with up to $600,000 available.

Commissioner Forest Peterson favored retaining Link and seeking more partnership funding, describing it as a last-mile option between fixed-route services. Other commissioners sought comparisons with narrower or less costly alternatives. Bryna Chang, Todd James and Bart Hechtman raised questions about cost, reliability and subsidized private ride-hail trips, while Cari Templeton asked staff to use Link trip patterns to evaluate fixed-route shuttles and existing VTA or Stanford Marguerite service.

One public commenter urged the city to retain Link, saying it was essential to a disabled family member’s community participation and was more usable and affordable for the family than private ride-hail or paratransit. The commenter also requested discounted caregiver fares.

Staff said it hoped to return to the City Council in January with clearer funding and service-duration options. The analysis is expected to consider using remaining grant funding over six, 12 or 18 months, targeting service to vulnerable riders, pursuing additional partners and replacing or supplementing Link with other transit models.

Commission recommends sending housing progress reports to the state

The commission voted 7-0 to recommend that the City Council authorize transmittal of Palo Alto’s annual Comprehensive Plan and Housing Element progress reports to state agencies. The motion noted that an unspecified date in the written staff report required correction because the presentation contained the correct date.

Staff reported that 28 of the 2017 Comprehensive Plan’s 410 programs were complete, leaving 382 not listed as complete, most of which were characterized as ongoing. For the 110 programs in the 2023-2031 Housing Element, staff reported that 68% were completed or ongoing, with 26 in progress and nine pending.

Housing figures through October showed 592 affordable-housing units and approximately 10% overall progress toward the city’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation, according to staff. Projects still in the pipeline were not fully reflected in the permit-based figures.

Commissioners supported transmitting the reports but requested clearer future reporting. Their suggestions included comparing permitted housing with targets by income category, using consistent program-status labels and showing changes from earlier reports more clearly. Staff also discussed staffing and resource constraints affecting implementation timing.

Following City Council authorization, staff plans to submit the reports to the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the Department of Housing and Community Development no later than April 2026.

Eight South Palo Alto crossing alternatives move toward council review

Eight alternatives for two new grade-separated bicycle and pedestrian crossings of the Caltrain corridor in South Palo Alto are moving to further review. The Rail Committee is scheduled to consider the alternatives on November 18, followed by the City Council on December 1. The council is expected to select up to two concepts in early 2026.

Separately, the Rail Committee is scheduled to review 15% designs for the broader Grade Separation Project on November 18. The City Council is expected to consider that project and provide formal direction on December 10 or December 15.

Staff also reported that it was reviewing 35% designs for the separate Alma Street and Charleston Road safety project. A new design draft is expected to be released for public review during winter and spring 2026.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting packet