Caltrain Palo Alto

Grade Crossings

Caltrain's electrification project will lead to an increase from 5 trains/hour to 6 trains/hour in both directions during the peak hours in the morning and evening by 2022. After that Caltrain plans to add additional service eventually reaching 8 trains/hour in each direction throughout the entire day.

These projections are based on meeting current demand (by 2022) and providing service for the extra 100,000 people expected to work and live along the Caltrain corridor by 2027.

Palo Alto's Response

At 12 or 16 trains/hour (total), the at-grade crossings will be blocked for a significant portion of each hour, causing increased traffic congestion and delays. There are 41 such at-grade crossings along the peninsula and all of the affected cities are planning grade separation projects; there are 4 at-grade crossings in Palo Alto.

This site is focused on Palo Alto and the Churchill crossing specifically.

Welcome to the world of grade separations.


What's New on the Site

A recording of a diesel and an electric train from the same locations was added to the site. It can be reached under the Neighborhood Impacts menu at the top of each page which links to the Train Noise page.

Who We Are

We are an informal group of Palo Alto residents working to ensure that all reasonable alternatives for the Churchill Caltrain crossing are considered.

Learn more about us »

Some Background

For most of 2019, only two alternatives for the grade crossing at Churchill Ave. were being considered: closing the crossing to all traffic or raising Caltrain tracks on a viaduct over Churchill. Both of these had serious opposition. In late 2019, a Palo Alto resident proposed a new alternative, now called the Churchill Partial Underpass. The Palo Alto City Council approved a budget to study it further on January 21, 2020. This website explains that proposal in detail.


What This Site is About

This site presents information about the Churchill grade crossing with particular focus on the Partial Underpass. Each of the alternatives are compared and contrasted. The authors of this website have a specific point of view, but have attempted to objective. We encourage feedback using the email in the Contact Us link the bottom of the page.

Grade Crossing at Churchill

The Neighborhoods

How to Get Involved

There are many ways to get involved and stay informed.

To stay aware of upcoming events: