Car Free
Ramona Street
and California Avenue
City Council Meeting
Presenters:
Ashwini Kantak, Project Manager
Heather Gurewitz, M Group
March 10, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
2 BACKGROUND
• November 2023: Council directed staff to take necessary actions to permanently close portions of Ramona Street and California Avenue to vehicular traffic
• Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element is needed to re-classify portions of Ramona Street and California Avenue • February 12, 2025: Planning and Transportation Commission moved staff recommendations on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment; additional feedback incorporated into the resolutions
• Prior Council approval to begin work for outdoor activation standards and street design for these two locations; preliminary work underway 3 CAR FREE PORTION OF RAMONA STREET
Ramona Street
University Avenue
Hamilton Avenue
4 CAR FREE PORTION OF CALIFORNIA AVENUE
5 PROPOSED NEW STREET CLASSIFICATIONS
• Pedestrian Only Street (portion of Ramona St)
o Restricted to pedestrians, no bicycles or skateboards o City emergency vehicles, and utility and maintenance vehicles allowed o Private utility vehicles allowed through an exception process o Outdoor dining and retail displays encouraged
• Community Street (portion of California Ave)
o Restricted to pedestrians and bicycles; bicycles subject to a speed limit o City emergency vehicles, and utility and maintenance vehicles allowed o Private utility and commercial vehicles allowed through an exception process o Outdoor dining, retail displays, and community events encouraged 6 PROPOSED ORDINANCE
• New PAMC Chapter 10.66 - Delegates authority to City Manager to promulgate regulations to control vehicle access and usage of Pedestrian Only Street and Community Street.
• Regulations consistent with the allowable uses of these streets as defined in the Amended Comprehensive Plan.
• Bicycles on a Community Street subject to speed limits for shared use paths as defined in PAMC 10.64.220 (15 mph).
• No bicycles or skateboards on a Pedestrian Only Street. 7 • Extensive stakeholder outreach for both streets from October 2022 to April 2023; additional outreach for
California Avenue from February to November 2024.
• Interviews and focus group meetings
• Monthly California Avenue Merchant workshops
• On-line and in-person community meetings, surveys
• City Committees
• External Agencies – Caltrans, Caltrain, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, State Historic Preservation Office • Tribal Outreach and Consultation per SB18
• Public Hearing at Planning and Transportation Commission
COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
8 • No immediate fiscal impact
• California Avenue
o Immediate near-term improvements are funded
o Additional work such as implementation of a signage plan will require funding • Ramona Street
o Design work and development of outdoor activation standards are funded o Implementation of near-term improvements will be included as part of Proposed FY26 Budget
FISCAL IMPACT
9 • February – April 2025: Stakeholder Engagement for
Outdoor Activation Standards and Streetscape
Improvements
• May 2025:
o Council consideration of Outdoor Activation Standards o Discussion of funding for near-term improvements in
Proposed FY 26 Budget
• August-December 2025: Implementation of near-
term improvements (contingent on budget approval)
NEXT STEPS – RAMONA STREET
10 NEXT STEPS – CALIFORNIA AVENUE
• March 2025: ARB review signage; outreach to merchants on Outdoor Activation
• April 2025: Stakeholder Engagement on Street Alternatives • June 2025: Council consideration of Outdoor Activation Standards and discussion of Street Alternatives (additional improvements will require funding)
• August-December 2025: Implementation of potential
improvements (contingent on funding)
11 KEY CONSIDERATIONS
• Prior Council and PTC Actions
o Several actions since June 2020 to temporarily close portions of Ramona Street and California Avenue and to bring back actions for permanent closure to enhance outdoor dining, retail, and economic vibrancy o February 12 PTC action to support staff recommendations • Extensive Stakeholder Outreach
o Community and Merchant Engagement, support for street closures o External Agencies, Tribal Agencies and Consultations, Public Hearing • Consistency with City Policies and Plans
o Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance
• Environmental Analysis
o No new, or substantially more severe significant effects compared to those identified in the Comprehensive Plan EIR; no new mitigation measures 12 RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Consider the Addendum to the previously adopted Comprehensive Plan 2030 Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2014052101);
2. Adopt the Resolution amending the Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element and Glossary;
3. Adopt the Resolution approving the closure of designated sections of Ramona St. and California Ave. to vehicular traffic; and
4. FIRST READ: Adopt an ordinance creating new Chapter 10.66 in Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) to allow the City Manager to create regulations to control vehicular access to these streets, set speed limits for bicycles at 15 mph on California Ave, and implement Ramona St. as pedestrian only by prohibiting bicycle and skateboard riding.
ASHWINI KANTAK
Project Manager
[email protected]