City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Transportation
Meeting Date: August 10, 2026
Report #:2607-6535
TITLE
Approval of Contract Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. C25191297 with Kittelson & Associates to Extend the Term through September 9, 2028, and Update the Scope of Services and Schedule of Rates for the South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Connectivity Project (Southern Palo Alto Bicycle and Pedestrian Railroad Crossing Study), with No Increase to the Previously Approved Not-to- Exceed Compensation; CEQA Status – Categorically Exempt
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. C25191297 with Kittelson & Associates for professional consultant services for the South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Connectivity Project (project) to extend the contract term through September 9, 2028, update the Scope of Services, Schedule of Performance, Schedule of Rates, and Compensation schedule to align with the current project work plan, and make these updates with no increase to the previously approved not-to-exceed compensation amount.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City entered into Contract No. C25191297 with Kittelson & Associates on September 9, 2024, for transportation planning and engineering services in support of the Southern Palo Alto Bicycle and Pedestrian Railroad Crossing Study, also referred to as the South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Connectivity Project. The consultant team is assisting the City with community outreach and engagement, existing conditions analysis, development and evaluation of crossing alternatives, preparation of a report, implementation planning, and grant application support.
Staff recommends approval of Amendment No. 1 to extend the contract term two years through September 9, 2028, and to update the scope of services so that the contract documents accurately reflect the remaining work needed to complete the project. The amendment is needed in response to community input requesting additional engagement and to align the project schedule with preferred community engagement periods in the spring and
fall and scheduled Rail Committee and City Council meetings. The updated scope also aligns the contract with the proposed work plan based on what staff, the consultant team, and the community have learned through the project to date.
Importantly, this amendment does not increase the previously approved not-to-exceed project budget. Rather, it updates the contract documents to better tailor the remaining consultant work to the project’s actual needs while keeping the total authorized compensation unchanged.
BACKGROUND
On September 9, 2024, the City entered into Contract No. C25191297 with Kittelson & Associates to provide professional services to evaluate opportunities to improve bicycle and pedestrian access across the rail corridor and develop conceptual designs for up to two new grade-separated bicycle and pedestrian crossings in south Palo Alto.1 On December 1, 2025, the City Council passed a motion that selected the preliminary concept design at El Dorado Avenue (also called Alternative A) for further evaluation. 2 Alternative A involves two variants:
Alternative A1 with a signalized crossing of Alma Street at El Dorado Avenue. Alternative A2 with a tunnel under both Alma Street and the Caltrain tracks in the vicinity of El Dorado Avenue.
The next step in the process is for the City to further refine and confirm the overall concept design for Alternatives A1 and A2, recognizing that each variant still includes design flexibility as it advances. The City will also review potential network enhancements in the surrounding neighborhoods. Over the next 5 months, the City will facilitate events to gather community input and feedback on the concept design alternatives. The City expects to have this round of community engagement completed and presented for the City Council’s consideration in late 2026.
As the project has advanced, staff received additional community input regarding the need for more engagement opportunities for the public, stakeholders, and advisory bodies, including the Rail Committee and the City Council, to provide feedback at key milestones. The project team has also refined the work plan based on what has been learned through early technical work, community input, and coordination with community partners. 1 City Council, September 9, 2024; Consent Calendar Item #7; https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=6496&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=5ceb3b7e- 41e9-4bf1-9ad4-fb0749407a24
2 City Council, December 1, 2025: Action Item #18;
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=83952&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=d9f09a55 -fa77-4887-8005-bb508af17995
To reflect these developments, staff is bringing forward Amendment No. 1 to update the contract term, scope, and schedule so the contract accurately matches the remaining work necessary to complete the project.
ANALYSIS
This amendment serves two primary purposes: extending the contract term and updating the scope of services to reflect the project’s current needs.
Term Extension
Staff recommends extending the contract term by two years through September 9, 2028. This additional time is needed to accommodate further community engagement requested during the project and to align the project schedule and major milestones with preferred community engagement periods in the spring and fall, when school is in session, including meeting dates for the Rail Committee and the City Council.
Updated Scope of Services
Staff also recommends updating the scope of services to align the proposed work plan based on input received from the community and direction provided by the City Council. Through the work completed to date, staff learned that the remaining consultant effort should be more specifically tailored and customized to the project’s evolving needs. The amendment therefore updates the scope so it better reflects the work that is required going forward, rather than leaving the contract tied to assumptions made at the beginning of the project.
The updated scope includes, among other items:
additional and more clearly sequenced community engagement; continued coordination with advisory bodies, including the Rail Committee and the City Council at key milestones;
refinements to evaluation criteria and alternatives analysis based on input received during the project;
updated reporting and documentation deliverables, including public draft and final study materials and responses to public comments; and
continued implementation and grant support to position the City for future project delivery.
These updates are not a change in direction so much as a refinement of how the remaining work will be carried out.
No Increase to Previously Approved Budget
This amendment does not request any increase to the previously approved not-to-exceed compensation amount. The amendment updates the compensation schedule and schedule of rates to align with the revised scope and timing of work.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
On September 9, 2024, the City Council approved the professional services contract (C25191297) with Kittelson & Associates for a not-to-exceed amount of $499,491 for the project for a term of two-years. Sufficient funding for anticipated expenses related to the project is available in the FY 2026 Adopted Capital Budget for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan Implementation project (PL-04010) in the Capital Improvement Fund.
There is no increase to the previously approved not-to-exceed amount of $499,491 associated with this amendment. The amendment updates the scope, schedule, and compensation allocations within the existing authorized contract budget only.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Stakeholder engagement has been extensive and will continue to be a central component of this project. Efforts for each phase of community engagement are listed below:
Project Initiation – Completed
Special Joint Meeting with Palo Alto Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee and Mountain View Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee: August 28, 2024 City Council Meeting: September 9, 2024 (Contract Authorization, Consent Calendar Item 7)5
Small Group Discussions: November 2024 to December 2024 Phase 1 Community Engagement: Establish Design Priorities (Spring 2025) – Completed Online Survey: April 1, 2025, to May 22, 2025 6
Transportation Planning Workshop: April 2, 2025
California Ave Third Thursday Pop-Up Event: April 17, 2025 Earth Day Festival Pop-Up Event: April 27, 2025
Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting: May 6, 2025 7 5 City Council, September 9, 2024; Consent Calendar Item #7; https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=6496&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=5ceb3b7e- 41e9-4bf1-9ad4-fb0749407a24
6 South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Connectivity Survey;
https://communityfeedback.opengov.com/portals/paloalto/Issue_14352 7 Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, May 6, 2025; Discussion Item #7.a.; https://www.paloalto.gov/PABAC
Planning and Transportation Commission Meeting: May 14, 2025 11 Bike to Work Day Pop-Up Event: May 15, 2025
Rail Committee Meeting: May 20, 2025 12
City/School Transportation Safety Committee Meeting: May 22, 2025 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting: May 27, 2025 13 Phase 2 Community Engagement: Feedback on Alternatives (Fall 2025) – Completed Online Survey: August 15, 2025, to October 12, 2025 14 Bike/Ped Rail Crossings Workshop: September 9, 2025
Planning and Transportation Commission Meeting: September 10, 2025 15 Bike Palo Alto Pop-Up Event: October 5, 2025
California Ave Third Thursday Pop-Up Event: October 16, 2025 City/School Transportation Safety Committee Meeting: October 23, 2025 Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC) Meeting: November 4, 2025 16 Rail Committee Meeting: November 18, 2025 17
City Council Meeting: December 1, 2025 18
A third round of engagement will occur in fall 2026 and will allow the community to review and provide feedback on the two shortlisted grade-separated bicycle and pedestrian rail crossings documented in the Public Draft Report. A Final Report will be shared in spring 2027 in Phase 4 for community review and potential adoption by the City Council. 11 Planning and Transportation Commission, May 14, 2025; Study Session Item #4; https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=7648&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=953eac3d- 214a-4cea-a77b-5cfa3921c24f
12 Rail Committee, May 20, 2025; Study Session Item #2; https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=9269&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=d661c2c2- 51aa-4f56-bdc3-9882fb61d4e3
13 Parks and Recreation Commission, May 27, 2025; Business Items Item #5; https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=7060&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=b91d0517- cedc-4099-8940-84b874c6ccd0
14 South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Connectivity Preliminary Design Concept Survey; https://communityfeedback.opengov.com/portals/paloalto/Issue_14594 15 Planning and Transportation Commission, September 10, 2025; Study Session Item #4; https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=7671&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=cc55f36b- 8916-4c57-a84c-1aa231dab86e
16 Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, November 4, 2025; https://www.paloalto.gov/PABAC 17 Rail Committee, November 18, 2025; Action Item #1;
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=83878&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=e5ce0fb7 -ff7e-4ddf-aa36-356d39a32b5b
18 City Council, December 1, 2025: Action Item #18;
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=83952&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=d9f09a55 -fa77-4887-8005-bb508af17995
Because the project is intended to identify feasible bicycle and pedestrian grade-separated crossings of the rail corridor in a complex and sensitive area, public input is critical to understanding community priorities, concerns, and desired outcomes. Input received to date has indicated a desire for additional opportunities for community engagement and review before key project decisions are brought forward.
The amended scope supports that need by allowing the project team to continue outreach and engagement as the study advances and to better align the work program with the timing of scheduled meetings by the Rail Committee and the City Council. This will help ensure that the community and policymakers have appropriate opportunities to review project materials and provide direction at meaningful milestones.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) section 15262 because this contract for planning and preliminary design does not commit the City to any specific project.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Kittelson & Associates Contract; C25191297 Amendment No. 1 APPROVED BY:
Ria Hutabarat Lo, Chief Transportation Official