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October 29, 2025
Meeting Summary
Charleston Road/ Alma Street Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements RE: Community Meeting #1
Date: October 28, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Attendees: City of Palo Alto (City):
Ruchika Aggarwal
[email protected]
Rafael Rius [email protected]
Ria Lo [email protected]
BKF Engineers (BKF):
Jason Mansfield
[email protected]
Jason Yee [email protected]
Callander Associates (CA):
Marie Mai
[email protected]
Melinda Wang [email protected]
Community Members: 8 total
The purpose of this meeting was to introduce the project, present existing conditions, and receive feedback from the community on the preliminary concept. This project provides near-term improvements to address immediate safety concerns. Proposed improvements include the installation of a pre-signal to stop motorists before the railroad tracks when a train is approaching, as well as a new “No Right Turn on Red” sign. A formal presentation was followed by time for attendees to ask questions and provide comments.
Summary
The community’s primary concerns were 1) whether the improvements sufficiently improve safety for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, 2) potential property impacts to neighbors, and 3) how the project can improve safety and visibility of bicyclists crossing through this intersection. It was generally agreed that 1) the proposed design concept will improve safety, but more immediate improvements like ‘quick-build’ changes should be evaluated, and more extensive safety improvements could be accommodated in the proposed future railroad grade separation project. 2) There are no property impacts to adjacent residences, except for a location where the City has an existing easement in place. 3) Additional bike lane striping suggestions will be evaluated and incorporated where possible.
Meeting Summary
Charleston Road/ Alma Street Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements RE: Community Meeting #1
October 28, 2025
24054_SUM_ComMtg#1
© copyrighted 2025 Callander Associates
Landscape Architecture, Inc.
Questions and Comments Received (responses are in non-italicized text) • (After project implementation) Can motorists who intend to turn right and are stopped behind the tracks proceed forward on a red light after the gate arms go up? o No. This will be clarified with a new “No Right Turn on Red” sign. • What is the cost of this project?
o Design is approximately $400K to $500K, and construction is currently estimated at $4M to $5M. The project is located within both City right-of-way (ROW) and Joint Powers Board (JPB)/Caltrain ROW and will be jointly implemented by the two agencies, with funding provided through Caltrans.
• Why or how does this project qualify for Section 130 Funding? What is the purpose of this project?
o The Section 130 program provides funding for elimination of hazards at highway-rail at-grade crossings. JPB evaluated train and vehicle volumes, geometric factors, pedestrians, buses and hazmat vehicles, and incident history and identified this intersection as a location that could benefit from hazard reduction. This project was not initiated by the City. However, through this program, the City would be able to address immediate safety concerns and bring the project up to current standards.
• The pre-signal will be an improvement, but can there be an additional physical barrier to prevent people from circumventing the railroad gate arms? o Caltrain has a separate, but related, effort in evaluating changes to the gate arms. The gate arms are in JPB/Caltrain ROW, so the City does not have jurisdictional authority to specify the gate arm design. • Can traffic markings be added to designate a queueing area for eastbound bicyclists between the tracks and Alma Street?
o This would need to be coordinated with and approved by Caltrain, but Caltrain may have concerns with bicyclists overflowing into the tracks if this queue space is formalized with traffic markings.
• Can a bike box be added for westbound Charleston Road to allow motorists to have better visibility of bicyclists who are continuing along Charleston Road? o Bike boxes are typically used at through-left lanes to allow bicyclists turning left to queue in front of cars and connect to bicycle lanes on the receiving roadway. At Charleston Road, the outer lane is a through-right lane, not a through-left lane, and Alma Street does not have bicycle lanes. A bike box at this location is not recommended.
• Is there bicyclist detection at this intersection?
o Yes, there is video detection on the east side and a detection loop on the west side.
• Can bike lane markings extend through the train track area? o This would need to be coordinated with and approved by Caltrain, as it is within Caltrain ROW.
• Was changing the eastbound through-right lane to a right turn-only lane considered? o This was evaluated, but there is a lower right turn demand here than at Churchill Avenue. Based on the traffic volumes, striping the eastbound approach with a shared left-through and a right-turn only lane would likely result in longer queues and unbalanced lane utilization, especially during the AM and PM commute hours and is not recommended.
• Electronic “No Right Turn on Red” signs are more visible. Can they be installed here? Meeting Summary
Charleston Road/ Alma Street Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements RE: Community Meeting #1
October 28, 2025
24054_SUM_ComMtg#1
© copyrighted 2025 Callander Associates
Landscape Architecture, Inc.
o There are prescribed uses for these electronic signs, but this can be further evaluated. There are currently electronic signs installed in both directions on Alma Street.
• Are there any potential quick-build projects for the intersection that could be completed prior to these proposed improvements?
o Caltrain has a quick build trial project at another location that involves the installation of glue-down posts. Caltrain has installed sentry posts at Churchill Avenue, which has been effective in detecting if someone is on the tracks and informing the train operator in advance. Caltrain has also evaluated the installation of anti-trespass panels, which are mats with 6” tall protrusions to deter pedestrian encroachment into the tracks. Quick-build options would need to be coordinated with and approved by Caltrain.
• Can bike striping be extended along Charleston Road on the north side of the intersection of Park Boulevard? The roadway alignment shifts at this location, so this would be helpful for visibility of bicyclists.
o This will be evaluated.
• Why is the B-C crosswalk not parallel to the Y-Z?
o The crosswalk is aligned with the curb ramp, and the curb ramp location was shifted to allow for a longer, less steep pedestrian path of travel. The improvements will make this location ADA-compliant.
• Can there be stop bars?
o Stop bars are proposed, as shown on the plans.
• Charleston Road residents are concerned about potential road widening impacting their homes. The project would benefit from additional clarification about the project limits, about the lack of right-of-way encroachment on neighbors, and how the project will improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians. Attendee was glad to learn that the project will not impact residential properties. Attendee recommends the project team connect with Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD). o The project will be presented to the City/School Safety Committee in early 2026.
• Please keep the B-C stop bar alignment as shown and do not stagger the stop bars.
Staggering the stop bars obstructs visibility of oncoming Charleston Road through traffic for right-turn motorists.
o Noted.
Meeting Summary
Charleston Road/ Alma Street Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements RE: Community Meeting #1
October 28, 2025
24054_SUM_ComMtg#1
© copyrighted 2025 Callander Associates
Landscape Architecture, Inc.
Project Limits
Preliminary Concept Enlargement
Meeting Summary
Charleston Road/ Alma Street Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements RE: Community Meeting #1
October 28, 2025
24054_SUM_ComMtg#1
© copyrighted 2025 Callander Associates
Landscape Architecture, Inc.
Q&A Session Notes
Meeting Summary
Charleston Road/ Alma Street Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements RE: Community Meeting #1
October 28, 2025
24054_SUM_ComMtg#1
© copyrighted 2025 Callander Associates
Landscape Architecture, Inc.
The information above is Callander Associates’ understanding of items discussed at the meeting. Callander Associates is proceeding with the project based on this understanding.
Submitted by:
Melinda Wang
Melinda Wang
Callander Associates
cc: All attendees