Churchill Closure Impacts & Benefits
The impacts of closing the Churchill crossing on the Southgate neighborhood are discussed.
Southgate Neighborhood - Partial Underpass Alternative
The Partial Underpass was designed to achieve as many of the goals for grade separation while avoiding all of the objections to the other alternatives.
Southgate Access
The Partial Underpass preserves Southgate residents' access to the rest of the city by keeping Churchill open to Alma. Some restriction to access to the neighborhood at Mariposa will be necessary to avoid the use of private properties.
Improves Traffic Flow
Separating the traffic from the crossing will improve traffic flow at the intersection. This will reduce the queues that form on Churchill and Alma. The major turns at Alma will be preserved. Cross traffic on Churchill will not be possible. Queue lengths on Churchill will be reduced, according to the traffic analysis.
Bike & Pedestrian Safety
A separate tunnel underneath Alma and the Caltrain tracks for bikes and pedestrians will greatly improve safety at the intersection, one of the most dangerous intersections in the country (according to the City). The tunnel will connect the existing bike trail along Palo Alto High School with Kellogg Ave., which has far less traffic than East Churchill does today.
Bike Trail Improvement
The current bike trail requires crossing Churchill at Castilleja. The Partial Underpass proposal includes a bridge over Churchill near the Caltrain tracks to bikes and pedestrians can avoid mixing with traffic.
Neighborhood Traffic
The Partial Underpass should not cause any increase in traffic in the neighborhoods. The Old Palo Alto neighborhood should see a significant reduction.
Southgate Neighborhood
Details of the Partial Underpass
The design goals and details of the Partial Underpass proposal are presented and evaluated by neighborhood.
Southgate Neighborhood
Churchill Viaduct Impacts & Benefits
The impacts of a viaduct at Churchill on the Southgate neighborhood are discussed.