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Home My WebLink About2022-05-18 Rail Agenda Packet1 Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the City Council Rail Committee after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the city’s website at www.cityofpaloalto.org CITY COUNCIL RAIL COMMITTEE Wednesday, May 18, 2022 Special Meeting Community Meeting Room 1:00 PM AMENDED Amended Agenda items appear in Red Below. Pursuant to AB 361 Palo Alto City Council and Committee meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend by teleconference/video conference or in person. To maximize public safety while still maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participate from home or attend in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. HOW TO PARTICIPATE VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/89997206541) Meeting ID: 899 9720 6541 Phone:1(669)900-6833 The meeting will be broadcast on Cable TV Channel 26, live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and streamed to Midpen Media Center at https://midpenmedia.org. PUBLIC COMMENTS Public Comments will be accepted both in person and via Zoom meeting. All requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutes after the staff’s presentation. Written public comments can be submitted in advance to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org and will be provided to the Committee and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your email subject line. Call to Order Oral Communications Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda. Action Items 1.Updates A.Caltrain B.VTA C.City Staff 2 City Council Rail Committee Special Meeting May 18, 2022 2.Discussion of Rail Committee 2022 Work Plan to be Recommended for City Council Approval – Report Added 5/17/22 Next Steps and Future Agendas Adjournment PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to hybrid meetings via email, in person, teleconference, or by phone. 1.Written public comments may be submitted by email to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org. 2.In person public comments please complete a speaker request card located on the table at the entrance to the Meeting room, and deliver it to the City Clerk prior to discussion of the item. 3.Spoken public comments using a computer or smart phone will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom-based meeting. 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Click to Join Zoom Meeting ID: 899 9720 6541 Phone: 1(669)900-6833 City of Palo Alto (ID # 14423) City Council Rail Committee Staff Report Meeting Date: 5/18/2022 Report Type: Action Items City of Palo Alto Page 1 Title: At Places: Rail Committee to Discuss Its Work Plan for Recommendations to the City Council From: City Manager Lead Department: Transportation Department Recommendations Staff recommends that the Rail Committee discuss the scope for the Rail Committee workplan and provide a recommendation to the City Council. Discussion During the review of rail grade separation alternatives, there were various items brought forward by the community that relate to either the grade separations at the four crossings along the Caltrain corridor or other bicycle & pedestrian, traffic, transportation, and rail-related items within Palo Alto. Staff compiled a list of these items with a summary of the current status/process and noted considerations of these elements for the Rail Committee work plan. The table below lists some of the potential items for the Rail Committee’s review and input. Other items related to the grade separation may be added as recommended work as the committee identifies them. No. Item Description Current Process Consideration A Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan (BPTP) BPTP will be reviewed by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC) members, the City School Traffic Safety Committee (CSTC), Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC), and recommended by staff for City Council approval. This plan will be brought for adoption and approval by the City Council as a whole, following PTC approval. B Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real Improvement Project The project was previously established as a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) and was a bicycle safety project not connected to the grade separation project; however, it was removed from The Churchill Avenue Closure Alternative recommended certain mitigations in this area/location that are different from these plans. 2 Packet Pg. 3 City of Palo Alto Page 2 consideration in the 2021 budget. C Quiet Zones This project is not an established CIP. Staff is currently coordinating with the City of Menlo Park for an initial study at Palo Alto Ave., which would determine the project scope and costs. The work is associated with rail grade crossings and thus may be considered in workplan. D Four (4) tracking/Passing tracks Four tracking location directly impacts grade separation design. Council referred this item to Rail Committee on November 21, 2021. E Bridge Deck Thickness Associated with various alternatives of grade separation design. The work is associated with rail grade crossings and thus may be considered in workplan. F Freight Speed (vertical grade/vertical curve) Associated with various alternatives of grade separation design. The work is associated with rail grade crossings and thus may be considered in workplan. G Geotechnical studies and Construction Methods (Jack Boxing, shoo fly, etc.) Associated with various alternatives of grade separation design. Council referred this item to Rail Committee on November 21, 2021. H San Francisquito Bridge The bridge is in close proximity to Palo Alto Avenue and on Caltrain Rail Corridor. Work on the Palo Alto Avenue grade crossing has not initiated yet, and is planned to initiate following progressing other crossings into the environmental phase. I Downtown Area Coordinated Plan/Housing Element near Caltrain Station Area The update and establishment of the downtown coordinated area plan (CAP) and housing elements will be worked through PTC for City Council Review/Approval. Work on the Palo Alto Avenue grade crossing has not initiated yet, and is planned to initiate following progressing other crossings into the environmental phase. The Planning Department has a small grant for some of this work on housing, but a CAP is not currently funded J Municipal Services Agreement (MSA) with Stanford No specific process has been established. Given the breadth of municipal services, the MSA could fall under the Finance or Policy & Services Committees K Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) The preparation of the S/CAP and update is reviewed by S/CAP Committee. This item falls under the jurisdiction of the S/CAP Ad Hoc Committee and therefore may conflict with the Rail Committee workplan. L PAUSD & Stanford Coordination The coordination associated with rail projects including grade The work associated with grade crossings and other rail-related 2 Packet Pg. 4 City of Palo Alto Page 3 separation is associated with the selection of alternatives and design. Additional engagement on grade separation with both of these entities is currently planned. items may be considered in workplan. M Seismic Upgrade of Existing Alma Road bridge over Embarcadero Road The bridge widening is required for the Churchill Avenue Closure Alternative. The project could be considered as a mitigation measure for Churchill Avenue Closure Alternative. As part of the grade crossing project, it may be considered in the workplan. N Engage with Local Policy Makers Group (LPMG) & Caltrain Coordination with other agencies for review of project design, construction, delivery, or other elements. Council referred this item to Rail Committee on November 21, 2021. O Presentation from outside agencies (Public & Private) Coordination with outside agencies and private companies in understanding innovative design and technologies. available. Work associated with grade crossings and other rail-related items may be considered in the workplan. P Funding opportunities Discussing possible opportunities and funding of grade separation projects. Work associated with grade crossings and other rail-related items may be considered in the workplan. Q Review of guiding principles Review of Evaluation criteria for selection of preferred alternative. Council referred this item to Rail Committee on November 21, 2021. Staff requests the Rail Committee’s review and feedback for the development of the work plan and directions on the next steps for gaining City Council approval. 2 Packet Pg. 5