Car Free Streets:
California Avenue
Ramona Street
City of Palo Alto
April 2023
Fukuji Architecture & Planning
Fehr and Peers
NACTO Global Street Design Guide
Ramona Street
California Avenue
Agenda
1. Welcome & Introductions
2. Outreach Findings
• Cal Ave
• Ramona Street
• Feedback
3. Two Project Approach
• Demonstration Projects
• Upcoming Study topics
• Feedback
4. Next Steps
• Validate outreach findings
• Receive feedback on:
• Demonstration projects
• Upcoming study topics
Meeting Objectives
Car Free Streets:
California Avenue & Ramona Street
City Council effort to:
• Enhance community
experience and economic
vibrancy of Palo Alto
• Engage community,
businesses & property
owners
• Advance interim and
permanent street
configurations
Community & Stakeholder Outreach
• Project Website
• 12 Interviews
• Local businesses, property owners &
managers, non-profit leaders, Chamber of
Commerce, elected officials, developers
• 3 Focus Groups 11/17 – 12/1
• Ramona Street Business Owners
• California Avenue Business Owners
• Chairpersons of City Commissions
• 12/7/22 Community Workshop - 60 attendees
• Online Community Survey - 356 responses!
Cal Ave Business Owners
Community Workshop
Outreach Meetings
Identifying Opportunities, Concerns, and Priorities for Cal Ave and Ramona Street
California Avenue
Outreach Findings
What brings you to Cal Ave?
Online Survey
24%
25%
40%
51%
51%
64%
90%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Services
Caltrain
Retail shops
Café
Grocery
Farmer's market
Restaurants
percentFarmer’s Market
Restaurants
What concerns you about Cal Ave?
Online Survey
Former Bank
California Hotel
46%
39%
30%
24%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Too many vacancies Loss of retail shops No people gathering places
Underutilized
What would you like to see on Cal Ave?
Online Survey
82%
62% 62%
44% 42%
32% 29%
0 10
20 30
40 50
60 70
80 90
Outdoor
dining
Public
places with
seating
Music Retail
vendors &
kiosks
Events Food trucks Artisan stalls
Public Spaces with Seating & Music
Outdoor Dining
Cal Ave – Perspectives on Street Closure
Want at least
one vehicle
lane open
Zoning too
restrictive to
attract tenants
Build outdoor dining
to destination
Need daytime
vitality
Can’t attract
tenants, erodes
shopper base
RETAILERS
“We’re at high risk to further impacts
with permanent closure”
RESTAURANTEURS
“Outdoor dining saved our business”
Customers enjoy
outdoor dining
Need signage
from parking to
shops
Need shops
open before &
after dinner
Heaters
essential
RESIDENTS
“Close street permanently”
Ped/bike
safetyDoesn’t feel like
community space
Desire events
Need community
gathering places
Retail
Diversity
Support small
business retention
Cal Ave Assets
• Historic Main Street
• Walkable
• 90-foot ROW
• Recent streetscape improvements &
parking structure
• Farmer’s Market
• Higher density & mixed-use
• Regional transit
• Pedestrian connections from parking
• Public art
Cal Ave Challenges
No aesthetics Vacancies Retail invisibility
UnderutilizedNot inviting Divided
Ped/bike conflicts
Disorganized
Ramona Street
Outreach Findings
What brings you to Ramona Street?
Online Survey
6%
32%
55%
81%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Services
Retail shops
Cafés
Restaurants
percent
Restaurants
What concerns you about Ramona Street?
Online Survey
No gathering places
16%
21%
24% 26%
34%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Road closure
barriers
Not enough
parking
Loss of retail
shops
Too many
vacancies
No gathering
places
What would you like to see on Ramona Street?
Online Survey
70%
61%
50% 50%
43%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Outdoor dining
destination
New planting &
street trees
Maintain the
historic
character
Small-scale
public spaces
with seating
High-quality
design
Outdoor Dining Destination
Business Owner Perspectives
• Customers love street closure, supports business
• Temporary situation is not visually attractive
• Emergency lane divides street, limits creating
public space
• Need aesthetic standards for improvements
• Willing to invest long-term if City commits to
permanent street closure
Feedback
Ground Rules
Give everyone a chance to contribute
Share by ”raising your virtual hand”
When called on unmute yourself
If having a technical problem, contact Ozzy Arce at
[email protected]
Cal Ave & Ramona Street
Feedback
Community Outreach
• Did we capture the high-priority opportunities and concerns? • Any gaps?
Two Project Approach
Initiating immediate and near-term change to Cal Ave
Demonstration
Projects
Upcoming Study
as directed by
City Council
Demonstration Projects
Install removable bollards
Flexible community spaces
Ground plane public art
Wayfinding and signage
Demonstration Projects – Removable Bollards
Replacing barriers to create safe and inviting public spaces on Cal Ave & Ramona Street Contemporary removable bollards for Cal Ave
Traditional removable bollards for
Ramona Street
Demonstration Projects – Flexible Spaces
Activating public spaces on Cal Ave and Ramona Street
Outdoor living rooms
Seating for
Individuals and small groups
Space for events and games
Demonstration Projects – Ground Plane Art
Creating public art on Cal Ave
Street Murals
Commissioned Artists, Community Members and City Staff Mural – Fort Collins, Colorado Demonstration Projects – Wayfinding & Signage
Communicating walking route information to Cal Ave and Ramona Street destinations Walking Distance
Directional Signs to Destinations
Cal Ave - Demonstration Project Locations
El Camino Real to Mimosa Lane
Cal Ave - Demonstration Project Locations
Mimosa Lane to Birch Street
Ramona Street - Demonstration Project Locations
University Avenue to Hamilton Avenue
Upcoming Study Topics
Upcoming Study Topics
Alternatives Analysis & Implementation Plan
• Streetscape design & amenities
• Circulation
• Design guidelines for private outdoor dining and public areas • Fee/pricing for use of Right-of-Way
• Parking strategies
• Historic resources
• Signage
• Legislative options
• Equity & accessibility
• Partnership building
Cal Avenue & Ramona Street
Feedback
Demonstration Projects
• Feedback on the demonstration projects?
• Thoughts on the proposed locations?
• Feedback on additional locations for demonstration projects? Upcoming Studies
• What are the highest priority topics for City Council consideration? Next Steps
1. Implement demonstration projects this summer!
2. Release the Scope of Work/RFP for the Alternatives Analysis study, as directed by Council
3. Council approval of contract for the Alternatives Analysis study once a preferred consultant is identified
For More Information
Project Website: CityofPaloAlto.org/CarFreeStreets
Project Contact: Ozzy Arce, Senior Transportation Planner [email protected]