HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2305-1426 City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Transportation
Meeting Date: June 12, 2023
Report #:2305-1426
TITLE
Approve the Grade Separation Evaluation Criteria For Evaluating Alternatives Under
Consideration for Grade Separation Projects. CEQA status – Categorically exempt under CEQA
Guidelines section 15262
RECOMMENDATION
Rail Committee and Staff recommend the City Council approve the proposed updates to the
Grade Separation Evaluation Criteria and authorize the staff and Rail Committee to use the
updated criteria for evaluating alternatives under consideration for grade separation projects.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On March 29, 2023, the Rail Committee discussed the grade separation evaluation criteria
adopted by the City Council in 2017 and directed the staff to incorporate elements from the
discussion to update the evaluation criteria. The Rail Committee has reviewed the revisions to
the evaluation criteria on April 26, 2023, and unanimously recommend approval of the proposed
updates to the City Council.
BACKGROUND
In September 2017, the City Council adopted the evaluation criteria in selecting a preferred
solution (a preferred alternative for each crossing) that included elements related to East-West
connectivity, Traffic congestion, Pedestrian / Bicycle circulation, Rail Operations, Costs,
Environmental Impacts, Visual Impacts, Local Access, Right Of Way Cost, and Construction.
The Matrix with a Summary of Evaluation based on Council Adopted Criteria was later
developed and refined through the Extended Community Advisory Panel (XCAP) for review of
the alternatives in consideration at Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road
crossings. This matrix assisted XCAP in making recommendations of preferred alternatives to
the City Council. At the March 29, 2023 Rail Committee meeting the evaluation criteria were
further discussed to assess the needs for any additional elements. The Committee directed the
Item 6
Item 6 Staff Report
Item 6: Staff Report Pg. 1 Packet Pg. 148 of 461
staff to incorporate elements from the discussion in updating the Council Adopted Evaluation
Criteria.
ANALYSIS
The existing Council adopted criteria include ten (10) elements. These elements are reflected in
the matrix on the scale indicating their level of impact of the particular element. Based on the
discussion and direction of the rail committee the proposed evaluation criteria is listed and
edits to the criteria are reflected as underlined text as follows:
Proposed Evaluation Criteria
The Council Adopted Evaluation Criteria provides support in reviewing the various
alternatives under consideration for grade separation at each location of crossing or
combination of the crossings considered as Project. These criteria will be used with
subjective weighting by the reviewer in the context of a given location.
A.East-West connectivity – Facilitate movement and connectedness across the
corridor for all modes of transportation
B.Traffic congestion – Reduce automobile delay and congestion for automobile
traffic at rail crossings to consider corridor travel times and to reduce traffic
inducement
C.Pedestrian / bicycle circulation – Provide clear and safe routes for pedestrians
and bicyclists seeking to cross the rail corridor, separate from automobile
traffic through and after grade separation construction
D. Rail operations – Support continued rail operations and Caltrain service
improvements
E. Cost – Consider Project Cost including Utility Relocation, Long Term
Maintenance, and Financing of the project with feasible funding sources.
F. Cost Private Property Impacts – Minimize right-of-way acquisition.
G.Environmental impacts – Review Sustainability, Sea Level Rise impacts, and
Reduce rail noise and vibration along the corridor.
H.Local access – Maintain or improve access to neighborhoods, parks, schools
and other destinations along the corridor while reducing regional traffic on
neighborhood streets.
I. Visual impacts – Minimize Consider visual and privacy changes along the rail
corridor.
J. Construction – Minimize disruption and the duration of construction
The Rail Committee reviewed the updated evaluation criteria on April 26, 2023 (Staff Report
Item 6
Item 6 Staff Report
Item 6: Staff Report Pg. 2 Packet Pg. 149 of 461
2304-1269)1, and unanimously recommended approval of the Agreement to the City Council.
Therefore, staff and Rail Committee recommends Council to approve the updated evaluation
criteria
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The new elements added to the criteria will require consultant support in performing additional
review of the proposed project conditions, performing additional studies, and providing
updates to the project materials. Staff is working with the Rail Committee to ascertain the
extent of work that the Consultant needs to undertake in order to review additional elements
and to narrow down the alternatives under consideration for the selection of preferred
alternative(s) at these crossings. Consequently, the required additional consultant support may
entail amending the existing contract with AECOM or procuring a new consultant. If deemed
necessary, Staff will return to Council and seek approval.
There is adequate funding available in FY24 Capital Improvement Projects for Grade
Separations to perform this work.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The evaluation criteria provide an approach to reviewing alternatives under consideration in a
systematic way. The updates to the previously adopted evaluation criteria were discussed at
the Rail Committee’s regular meeting on March 29, 2023, and April 26, 2023, where public
comment was taken.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed action is part of a planning study for a possible future action, which has not been
approved, adopted, or funded and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15262. The future decision to
approve the construction of any one of the identified potential alternatives would be subject to
CEQA and require the preparation of an environmental analysis. Environmental review and
design for the grade separation project will be performed in the subsequent steps of the
project development.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Existing Matrix Evaluation Criteria and Alternatives in Consideration May 2023
APPROVED BY: Philip Kamhi, Chief Transportation Official
1 Item 2, Action Items
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Public/CompiledDocument?meetingTemplateId=11352&compileOutputType
=1
Item 6
Item 6 Staff Report
Item 6: Staff Report Pg. 3 Packet Pg. 150 of 461
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Negative Impact Positive Impact
Updated April 2023 to reflect existing criteria and Alternatives
in consideration
Item 6
Attachment A - Existing Matrix
Evaluation Criteria and Alternatives
in Consideration May 2023
Item 6: Staff Report Pg. 4 Packet Pg. 151 of 461
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Negative Impact Positive Impact
Updated April 2023Updated April 2023 to reflect existing criteria and Alternatives
in consideration
Item 6
Attachment A - Existing Matrix
Evaluation Criteria and Alternatives
in Consideration May 2023
Item 6: Staff Report Pg. 5 Packet Pg. 152 of 461
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Updated April 2023Updated April 2023 to reflect existing criteria and Alternatives
in consideration
Item 6
Attachment A - Existing Matrix
Evaluation Criteria and Alternatives
in Consideration May 2023
Item 6: Staff Report Pg. 6 Packet Pg. 153 of 461
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Preferred Alternative
11/29/2021
Backup Alternative
11/29/2021
Negative Impact Positive Impact
Updated April 2023Updated April 2023 to reflect existing criteria and Alternatives
in consideration
Item 6
Attachment A - Existing Matrix
Evaluation Criteria and Alternatives
in Consideration May 2023
Item 6: Staff Report Pg. 7 Packet Pg. 154 of 461