Caltrain Palo Alto: Churchill Grade Crossing Alternatives

Churchill Grade Crossing Alternatives

Close Churchill Avenue

Closing Churchill and adding a bike/pedestrian tunnel for crossing Alma is certainly the least expensive option (other than doing nothing). It also separates bikes and pedestrians from cars. However, there is widespread concern about traffic impacts on El Camino, Embarcadero and Oregon Expressway if current Churchill traffic – approximately 9,500 cars per average weekday – is diverted.

The City has prepared a fact sheet on the closure.

Closure Fact Sheet

Churchill-only Viaduct

The viaduct would raise Caltrain starting at Embarcadero and return it to the surface before the California Ave. train station. This would permit the current intersection to remain pretty much as it is today. The viaduct would be a very visible structure and many feel its appearance would likely be out of character for Palo Alto. Raising, then lowering, the tracks is not favored by Caltrain because of its impact on riders.

The City has prepared a fact sheet on the viaduct.

Viaduct Fact Sheet

Partial Underpass

The Partial Underpass is a compromise proposal that tries to avoid the objections to the other grade separations and while mostly preserving the traffic flows between El Camino and Alma. It also separates bikes and pedestrians from Caltrain and the traffic on Alma and Churchill. This website provides more details about the proposal.

Do Nothing

Of course, one alternative is to do nothing: leave the crossing alone and see if the anticipated problems occur. The City Council has rejected this alternative, but it's mentioned here because many residents are not convinced that grade separation is necessary. Nevertheless, the Churchill crossing is one of the most dangerous railroad crossings in the country, according tp the Federal Railroad Administration.

Comparison of Alternatives

The table below compares the Churchill alternatives based on criteria specified by the City Council and some suggested by residents.

NOTE: click on the table entries to see explanations for each rating

Criterion	Closure	Viaduct	Underpass
Requires private properties	no	no	no
Closure A bike and pedestrian tunnel under Alma and the Caltrain tracks is needed. This is currently expected to be constructed down the middle of Churchill Ave, on both sides. Other than restricting some parking on Churchill, there will be no private property impacts. Viaduct The preliminary design appears to require no private property except temporarily during construction. Underpass No private properties will be needed for the Partial Underpass. There is a possibility that some portion of the public planting strip along Alma may need to be used. Some parking restrictions on Kellogg will be needed.
Large above-ground structures	no	yes	no
Closure No above ground structures will be needed. All new infrastructure will be below the surface (bike and pedestrian tunnel). Viaduct The viaduct will be about 20 feet tall and constructed of concrete. No final design has been completed, but the structure is expected to be very large. Underpass No above ground structures will be needed. All new infrastructure (the underpass and bike and pedestrian tunnel) will be below the surface.
Preserves Traffic Flow	no	yes	mostly
Closure Closing Churchill will cut off all high-volume traffic between Alma and El Camino at Churchill. This traffic, about 9,500 cars/day will go elsewhere, mostly to Embarcadero. Viaduct The viaduct preserves all use of the Churchill/Alma intersection. Underpass The Partial Underpass will preserve the high-volume use of the intersection but will not allow traffic to flow across Alma on Churchill. Left turns onto Alma from East Churchill and from southbound Alma onto East Churchill will also be prevented.
Separates bikes and peds from traffic	yes	no	yes
Closure A bike and pedestrian tunnel under Alma and the Caltrain tracks will provide separation from traffic. There will still be some mixing with traffic on East Churchill, but the traffic there will be reduced because of the closure of the crossing. Viaduct The viaduct plan has the same bike and pedestrian treatment as the current intersection. Underpass A bike and pedestrian tunnel under Alma and the Caltrain tracks will provide separation from traffic. There will still be some traffic mixing on Kellogg, but the traffic there is light.
Reduces traffic delay and congestion	no	some	yes
Closure Closing the Churchill crossing will greatly increase traffic congestion elsewhere resulting on reduced levels of service on El Camino and Embarcadero even after mitigations. Viaduct Traffic will improve due to the grade separation but congestions due will remain due to the bikes and pedestrians crossing Alma. This will result in a reduced level of service over time. Underpass The main traffic flows will be/improved because of the grade separation and further improved because of the separation of bikes and pedestrians from the intersection. The level of service obtained will be better than any other alternatives.
Supports Caltrain operations	yes	costly	yes
Closure The construction of a bike and pedestrian underpass could be performed with only the shortest of Caltrain interruptions, perhaps only a couple of weekends. Viaduct With the construction of a shooflyA shoofly is a temporary detour around a construction zone or other blockage on the mainline tracks. detour, the viaduct could be built with minimal disruption. Underpass An underpass can be constructed with only minimal impact on Caltrain operations, perhaps only a few weekend interruptions, assuming in-place bridge construction techniques are used.
Maintains access to neighborhoods, parks, and schools	no	yes	mostly
Closure Access to the Palo Alto High School by car will be seriously impacted by the loss of the Churchill crossing. Southgate access to Walter Hays and the east side of Palo Alto will also be reduced. Bike and pedestrian access is improved. Viaduct The viaduct will cause no reduction in access. Underpass The Partial Underpass preserves most of the current access and all of the high-volume access. Bike and pedestrian access is improved.
Reduces traffic on neighborhood streets	no	no	yes
Closure The closure of the Churchill crossing forces traffic to find a different route. No mitigation investigated prevents an increase on neighborhood streets. Viaduct The viaduct won't reduce neighborhood traffic, but won't increase it either. Underpass East Churchill will no longer be a throughway for traffic heading to or from Embarcadero, which should be a major improvement. That traffic will likely use Embarcadero instead. None of the high-traffic routes will be disrupted and no traffic will be diverted to the neighborhoods. A signalized left turn may be needed somewhere in Old Palo Alto along Alma. That may cause some incremental local traffic on that street.
Minimize visual changes	yes	no	some
Closure The only change will be the tunnel under Alma and the Caltrain tracks. This should be unobtrusive. Viaduct The viaduct will be very visible and from a considerable distance. Underpass The Partial Underpass is a major change but since it is all below grade, should not have a visual impact away from the intersection.
Minimize construction impacts	mostly	no	no
Closure Construction of the bike and pedestrian tunnel will probably disrupt Alma and East Churchill but not Caltrain. Viaduct Construction of the viaduct will require a shooflyA shoofly is a temporary detour around a construction zone or other blockage on the mainline tracks. for the Caltrain tracks and interruptions and restrictions on Alma traffic. Underpass Construction of the Partial Underpass will cause interruptions and disruptions of Alma traffic, though the impact on Caltrain operations may be minimal. The separate bike and pedestrian tunnel will create disruptions on Kellogg similar to the Churchill disruptions expected for the closure alternative.
Relative cost	medium	highest	high
Closure Closure and a bike/pedestrian tunnel has the lowest cost of the alternatives, but mitigations for the traffic diverted elsewhere will increase the budget. Viaduct Construction costs for the viaduct and shooflyA shoofly is a temporary detour around a construction zone or other blockage on the mainline tracks. make this the highest cost alternative for the Churchill crossing. Underpass Construction of the Partial Underpass is expected to be less than the viaduct but more than closure plus it's mitigations.