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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-20 Rail Committee Agenda PacketRAIL COMMITTEE Special Meeting Tuesday, August 20, 2024 Community Meeting Room & Hybrid 2:30 PM Rail Committee meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend by teleconference/video conference or in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. The meeting will be broadcast on Cable TV Channel 26, live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and streamed to Midpen Media Center https://midpenmedia.org. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/86388142528) Meeting ID: 863 8814 2528    Phone: 1(669)900‐6833 PUBLIC COMMENTS General Public Comment for items not on the agenda will be accepted in person for up to three minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. General public comment will be heard for 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda. Public comments for agendized items will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. Requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutes after the staff’s presentation or as determined by the Chair. Written public comments can be submitted in advance to city.council@CityofPaloAlto.org and will be provided to the Council and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your subject line. PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only by email to city.clerk@CityofPaloAlto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the  Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strong cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are not accepted. CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMENT  Members of the public may speak in­person ONLY to any item NOT on the agenda. 1­3 minutes depending on # of speakers. Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda. VERBAL UPDATE ON INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES A.Caltrain B.VTA C.City Staff ACTION ITEMS 1.Review and Discuss the Initial Analysis of the City’s Quiet Zone Implementation Project at Existing At‐Grade Crossings (Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road); CEQA status – statutorily exempt per Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies). STUDY SESSION FUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDAS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) ADJOURNMENT PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone. 1. Written public comments may be submitted by email to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org. 2. For in person public comments please complete a speaker request card located on the table at the entrance to the Council Chambers and deliver it to the Clerk prior to discussion of the item. 3. Spoken public comments for agendized items 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. Please read the following instructions carefully. You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 , Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. Or download the Zoom application onto your smart phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter in the Meeting ID below. You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak. When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. 4. Spoken public comments for agendized items using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted. CLICK HERE TO JOIN    Meeting ID: 863‐8814‐2528   Phone: 1‐669‐900‐6833 Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. California Government Code §84308, commonly referred to as the "Levine Act," prohibits an elected official of a local government agency from participating in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use if the official received a campaign contribution exceeding $250 from a party or participant, including their agents, to the proceeding within the last 12 months. A “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” includes most land use and planning approvals and the approval of contracts that are not subject to lowest responsible bid procedures. A “party” is a person who files an application for, or is the subject of, a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use. A “participant” is a person who actively supports or opposes a particular decision in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use, and has a financial interest in the decision. The Levine Act incorporates the definition of “financial interest” in the Political Reform Act, which encompasses interests in business entities, real property, sources of income, sources of gifts, and personal finances that may be affected by the Council’s actions. If you qualify as a “party” or “participant” to a proceeding, and you have made a campaign contribution to a Council Member exceeding $250 made within the last 12 months, you must disclose the campaign contribution before making your comments. 1 Regular Meeting August 20, 2024 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.cityofpaloalto.org/agendas RAIL COMMITTEESpecial MeetingTuesday, August 20, 2024Community Meeting Room & Hybrid2:30 PMRail Committee meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend byteleconference/video conference or in person. Information on how the public may observe andparticipate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. The meeting will be broadcast onCable TV Channel 26, live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and streamedto Midpen Media Center https://midpenmedia.org.VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/86388142528)Meeting ID: 863 8814 2528    Phone: 1(669)900‐6833PUBLIC COMMENTSGeneral Public Comment for items not on the agenda will be accepted in person for up to threeminutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. General public comment will be heard for30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda. Publiccomments for agendized items will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to threeminutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. Requests to speak will be taken until 5minutes after the staff’s presentation or as determined by the Chair. Written public commentscan be submitted in advance to city.council@CityofPaloAlto.org and will be provided to theCouncil and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agendaitem you are referencing in your subject line. PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only by email to city.clerk@CityofPaloAlto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the  Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strong cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are not accepted. CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMENT  Members of the public may speak in­person ONLY to any item NOT on the agenda. 1­3 minutes depending on # of speakers. Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda. VERBAL UPDATE ON INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES A.Caltrain B.VTA C.City Staff ACTION ITEMS 1.Review and Discuss the Initial Analysis of the City’s Quiet Zone Implementation Project at Existing At‐Grade Crossings (Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road); CEQA status – statutorily exempt per Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies). STUDY SESSION FUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDAS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) ADJOURNMENT PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone. 1. Written public comments may be submitted by email to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org. 2. For in person public comments please complete a speaker request card located on the table at the entrance to the Council Chambers and deliver it to the Clerk prior to discussion of the item. 3. Spoken public comments for agendized items 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. Please read the following instructions carefully. You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 , Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. Or download the Zoom application onto your smart phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter in the Meeting ID below. You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak. When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. 4. Spoken public comments for agendized items using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted. CLICK HERE TO JOIN    Meeting ID: 863‐8814‐2528   Phone: 1‐669‐900‐6833 Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. California Government Code §84308, commonly referred to as the "Levine Act," prohibits an elected official of a local government agency from participating in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use if the official received a campaign contribution exceeding $250 from a party or participant, including their agents, to the proceeding within the last 12 months. A “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” includes most land use and planning approvals and the approval of contracts that are not subject to lowest responsible bid procedures. A “party” is a person who files an application for, or is the subject of, a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use. A “participant” is a person who actively supports or opposes a particular decision in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use, and has a financial interest in the decision. The Levine Act incorporates the definition of “financial interest” in the Political Reform Act, which encompasses interests in business entities, real property, sources of income, sources of gifts, and personal finances that may be affected by the Council’s actions. If you qualify as a “party” or “participant” to a proceeding, and you have made a campaign contribution to a Council Member exceeding $250 made within the last 12 months, you must disclose the campaign contribution before making your comments.  2 Regular Meeting August 20, 2024 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.cityofpaloalto.org/agendas RAIL COMMITTEESpecial MeetingTuesday, August 20, 2024Community Meeting Room & Hybrid2:30 PMRail Committee meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend byteleconference/video conference or in person. Information on how the public may observe andparticipate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. The meeting will be broadcast onCable TV Channel 26, live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and streamedto Midpen Media Center https://midpenmedia.org.VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/86388142528)Meeting ID: 863 8814 2528    Phone: 1(669)900‐6833PUBLIC COMMENTSGeneral Public Comment for items not on the agenda will be accepted in person for up to threeminutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. General public comment will be heard for30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda. Publiccomments for agendized items will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to threeminutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. Requests to speak will be taken until 5minutes after the staff’s presentation or as determined by the Chair. Written public commentscan be submitted in advance to city.council@CityofPaloAlto.org and will be provided to theCouncil and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agendaitem you are referencing in your subject line.PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted onlyby email to city.clerk@CityofPaloAlto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received,the  Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strongcybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are notaccepted.CALL TO ORDERPUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public may speak in­person ONLY to any item NOT on the agenda. 1­3 minutes depending on # ofspeakers. Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end ofthe agenda.VERBAL UPDATE ON INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIESA.CaltrainB.VTAC.City StaffACTION ITEMS1.Review and Discuss the Initial Analysis of the City’s Quiet Zone Implementation Projectat Existing At‐Grade Crossings (Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road);CEQA status – statutorily exempt per Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies).STUDY SESSIONFUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDASMembers of the public may not speak to the item(s) ADJOURNMENT PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone. 1. Written public comments may be submitted by email to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org. 2. For in person public comments please complete a speaker request card located on the table at the entrance to the Council Chambers and deliver it to the Clerk prior to discussion of the item. 3. Spoken public comments for agendized items 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. Please read the following instructions carefully. You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 , Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. Or download the Zoom application onto your smart phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter in the Meeting ID below. You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak. When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. 4. Spoken public comments for agendized items using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted. CLICK HERE TO JOIN    Meeting ID: 863‐8814‐2528   Phone: 1‐669‐900‐6833 Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. California Government Code §84308, commonly referred to as the "Levine Act," prohibits an elected official of a local government agency from participating in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use if the official received a campaign contribution exceeding $250 from a party or participant, including their agents, to the proceeding within the last 12 months. A “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” includes most land use and planning approvals and the approval of contracts that are not subject to lowest responsible bid procedures. A “party” is a person who files an application for, or is the subject of, a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use. A “participant” is a person who actively supports or opposes a particular decision in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use, and has a financial interest in the decision. The Levine Act incorporates the definition of “financial interest” in the Political Reform Act, which encompasses interests in business entities, real property, sources of income, sources of gifts, and personal finances that may be affected by the Council’s actions. If you qualify as a “party” or “participant” to a proceeding, and you have made a campaign contribution to a Council Member exceeding $250 made within the last 12 months, you must disclose the campaign contribution before making your comments.  3 Regular Meeting August 20, 2024 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.cityofpaloalto.org/agendas RAIL COMMITTEESpecial MeetingTuesday, August 20, 2024Community Meeting Room & Hybrid2:30 PMRail Committee meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend byteleconference/video conference or in person. Information on how the public may observe andparticipate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. The meeting will be broadcast onCable TV Channel 26, live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and streamedto Midpen Media Center https://midpenmedia.org.VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/86388142528)Meeting ID: 863 8814 2528    Phone: 1(669)900‐6833PUBLIC COMMENTSGeneral Public Comment for items not on the agenda will be accepted in person for up to threeminutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. General public comment will be heard for30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda. Publiccomments for agendized items will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to threeminutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. Requests to speak will be taken until 5minutes after the staff’s presentation or as determined by the Chair. Written public commentscan be submitted in advance to city.council@CityofPaloAlto.org and will be provided to theCouncil and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agendaitem you are referencing in your subject line.PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted onlyby email to city.clerk@CityofPaloAlto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received,the  Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strongcybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are notaccepted.CALL TO ORDERPUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public may speak in­person ONLY to any item NOT on the agenda. 1­3 minutes depending on # ofspeakers. Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end ofthe agenda.VERBAL UPDATE ON INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIESA.CaltrainB.VTAC.City StaffACTION ITEMS1.Review and Discuss the Initial Analysis of the City’s Quiet Zone Implementation Projectat Existing At‐Grade Crossings (Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road);CEQA status – statutorily exempt per Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies).STUDY SESSIONFUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDASMembers of the public may not speak to the item(s)ADJOURNMENTPUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONSMembers of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email,teleconference, or by phone.1. Written public comments may be submitted by email to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org.2. For in person public comments please complete a speaker request card located on thetable at the entrance to the Council Chambers and deliver it to the Clerk prior todiscussion of the item.3. Spoken public comments for agendized items using a computer or smart phone willbe accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the linkbelow to access a Zoom‐based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully.You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If usingyour browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 ,Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled inolder browsers including Internet Explorer. Or download the Zoom application ontoyour smart phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter in theMeeting ID below.You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that youidentify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify youthat it is your turn to speak.When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk willactivate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before theyare called to speak.When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will beshown on the computer to help keep track of your comments.4. Spoken public comments for agendized items using a phone use the telephone numberlisted below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so weknow that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name beforeaddressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When calledplease limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted.CLICK HERE TO JOIN    Meeting ID: 863‐8814‐2528   Phone: 1‐669‐900‐6833Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its publicprograms, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons withdisabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. California Government Code §84308, commonly referred to as the "Levine Act," prohibits an elected official of a local government agency from participating in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use if the official received a campaign contribution exceeding $250 from a party or participant, including their agents, to the proceeding within the last 12 months. A “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” includes most land use and planning approvals and the approval of contracts that are not subject to lowest responsible bid procedures. A “party” is a person who files an application for, or is the subject of, a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use. A “participant” is a person who actively supports or opposes a particular decision in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use, and has a financial interest in the decision. The Levine Act incorporates the definition of “financial interest” in the Political Reform Act, which encompasses interests in business entities, real property, sources of income, sources of gifts, and personal finances that may be affected by the Council’s actions. If you qualify as a “party” or “participant” to a proceeding, and you have made a campaign contribution to a Council Member exceeding $250 made within the last 12 months, you must disclose the campaign contribution before making your comments.  4 Regular Meeting August 20, 2024 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.cityofpaloalto.org/agendas Rail Committee Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: ACTION ITEMS Lead Department: Transportation Meeting Date: August 20, 2024 Report #:2405-3085 TITLE Review and Discuss the Initial Analysis of the City’s Quiet Zone Implementation Project at Existing At-Grade Crossings (Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road); CEQA status – statutorily exempt per Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies). RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the Rail Committee to consider recommending safety measures at each of the crossings to bring Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) to below the existing Risk Index With Horns (RIWH), which involves implementing a quad gate arms mechanism at each of the three crossings i.e. Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road (Option 1). In addition, staff recommends considering Wayside Horns (Option 4) for interim purposes to reduce Train Horn Noise levels in the community. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Office of Transportation staff is progressing with a Quiet Zone Study at three rail crossings: Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road. On March 4, 2024, the City Council approved an agreement with Kimley Horn and Associates to perform the Quiet Zone Study for the implementation of Quiet Zones at the project crossings in Palo Alto. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulations require a quiet zone study to review the Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) qualifying for quiet zone or Supplemental Safety Measures (SSM) at each crossing. The Consultant has completed the initial review of the existing conditions and developed options for improvements at these crossings. This staff report shares the findings from this initial review and analysis and seeks direction in furthering the next steps for implementing Quiet Zone. BACKGROUND Federal regulation requires that locomotive horns begin sounding 15–20 seconds before entering public rail grade crossings, no more than one-quarter mile in advance. These horns produce sounds from 96 to 110 decibels for at-grade crossings. The sound noise affects the quality of life of the Palo Alto residents in the vicinity of the railroad crossings and causes significant noise pollution. Item 1 Item 1 Staff Report        Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 1  Packet Pg. 5 of 14  The City of Palo Alto (City) has received several requests for consideration of Quiet Zone (QZ) at crossings across the Caltrain Corridor. As the first phase of this project, the City of Palo Alto in collaboration with the City of Menlo Park conducted a QZ study for establishing a quiet zone at the Palo Alto Avenue/Alma Street crossing. The City Council has approved the Conceptual plans for the improvements required at this crossing and staff is working with the consultant to develop the improvement plans for the construction of required improvements. Also, after this phase, the Office of Transportation staff initiated a QZ project for implementation of QZ at the remaining three at-grade crossings of Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road. As the City is progressing towards the Grade Separation at these crossings, the QZ will therefore serve as an interim measure until Grade Separation Projects are constructed at these crossings. On March 4, 2024, the City Council approved an agreement with Kimley Horn and Associates for performing a Quiet Zone Study which also includes the scope of providing recommendations for improvements necessary at these three crossings to implement QZ in Palo Alto (Staff Report 2311-22691). The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Title 49 regulations provide guidelines to local agencies nationwide to mitigate the effects of train horn noise by establishing Quiet Zones. The regulations require a quiet zone study to review the Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) qualifying for quiet zone or Supplemental Safety Measures (SSM) at each crossing. There are fourteen SSMs recognized by the FRA. Due to the community goals and the surrounding street geometry, the only feasible SSM was a quad-gate system for each of these crossings. ANALYSIS The project consultant has completed the initial review of the existing conditions and analyzed the crossings, and this initial review precedes any conceptual design, diagnostic meetings, and coordination with Caltrain and CPUC. There are three main methods by which a set of crossings can achieve quiet zone approval. Due to community goals and the surrounding street geometry, the only feasible SSM was a quad-gate system. The analysis of the risk index for each of these options is as follows: Option 1: Upgrade each crossing: this option considers implementing safety measures at each of the crossings to bring QZRI to below the existing Risk Index With Horns (RIWH). This option involves implementing a quad gate arms mechanism at each of the three crossings i.e. Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road. 1 City Council Meeting, March 4, 2024; Consent Item SR# 2311-2269 https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=82717&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto Item 1 Item 1 Staff Report Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 2 Packet Pg. 6 of 14  Table 1: All Crossings upgraded to Quad Gates Street Pre-SSM SSM Risk Palo Alto Avenue (Alma Street)13 0 82,827.10 Churchill Avenue 0 6 135,461.91 E Meadow Drive 0 6 68,019.50 W Charleston Road 0 6 97,993.91 Risk Index with Horns (RIWH) 258,527.84 Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) 96,075.6 Option 2: Upgrade minimum subset to gain QZ approval: A second way by which a quiet zone can be achieved is by upgrading crossings with SSMs such that the QZRI is less than the RIWH. During this evaluation, it was determined that two crossings in the Study Area are required to be upgraded to Quad gates (SSM 6) for the Quiet Zone to qualify for QZ. This could be a combination of any two crossings as depicted in the tables below. Table 2: Churchill and Meadow upgraded to Quad Gates Street Pre-SSM SSM Risk Palo Alto Avenue (Alma Street) 13 0 82,827.10 Churchill Avenue 0 6 135,461.91 E Meadow Drive 0 6 68,019.50 W Charleston Road 0 0 426,060.47 Risk Index with Horns (RIWH) 258,527.84 Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) 178,092.24 Table 3: Meadow Drive and Charleston Road crossings upgraded to Quad Gates Street Pre-SSM SSM Risk Palo Alto Avenue (Alma Street) 13 0 82,827.10 Churchill Avenue 0 0 588,964.84 E Meadow Drive 0 6 68,019.50 W Charleston Road 0 6 97,993.91 Risk Index with Horns (RIWH) 258,527.84 Quiet Zone Risk Index 209,451.34 Item 1 Item 1 Staff Report        Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 3  Packet Pg. 7 of 14  Table 4: Churchill Avenue and Charleston Road crossings upgraded to Quad Gates Street Pre-SSM SSM Risk Palo Alto Avenue (Alma Street) 13 0 82,827.10 Churchill Avenue 0 6 135,461.91 E Meadow Drive 0 0 68,019.50 W Charleston Road 0 6 97,993.91 Risk Index with Horns (RIWH) 258,527.84 Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) 153,004.96 Option 3: Alternative Safety Measures: In locations where implementing upgrades may be infeasible due to geometry or spatial constraints, Alternative Safety Measures (ASMs) may be implemented. ASMs require a more frequent cycle of re-certification of the quiet zone and are evaluated on a subjective basis. “Engineering” ASMs may include roadway changes, such as reprofiling, sight visibility enhancements, or signalization upgrades. “Non-engineering” ASMs could include public outreach initiatives or police enforcement. For the crossings in the Study Area, ASMs may be useful if the City determines four- quadrant gates would not be feasible, specifically related to the limited clearance between the grade crossings and nearby intersections with Alma Street. However, it is important to note the risk associated with the implementation of ASMs, due to the increased frequency of recertification (2.5 – 3 years) as well as the subjective evaluation of the safety measures. Option 4: Wayside Horns: Wayside horns are allowed to be installed at crossings already equipped with flashing lights and automatic gates. The wayside horn would be placed on the warning device, and oriented to face the roadway. The sound would be directed down the roadway, which can reduce the overall spread of the noise. However, wayside horns are not the same as establishing a quiet zone. Wayside horns may be an interim measure to reduce the spread of the sound associated with train horns while a more permanent solution is evaluated, planned for, and constructed. To implement QZ at these crossings, the analysis assumed all four crossings in the FRA Quiet Zone Calculator, since the City cannot create two different quiet zones under CFR 222.35(a)(1)(iii). The likely quiet zone implementation will involve getting Palo Alto Avenue/Alma Street quiet zone certified, and then amending the quiet zone in the future when the remaining three crossings are upgraded. Item 1 Item 1 Staff Report        Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 4  Packet Pg. 8 of 14  To have a QZ, implementation of the quad gate system will be necessary to meet the Quiet Zone Risk Index. The next steps will therefore involve the consultant reviewing the existing conditions at each intersection and developing the conceptual plans. These conceptual plans will allow discussions with FRA and CPUC staff during the diagnostic meeting for the development of the QZ at these crossings. Therefore, staff recommends that the consultant proceeds with the review and development of the conceptual plans that would meet the FRA requirements for implementation of the QZ. RESOURCE IMPACT STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ATTACHMENTS APPROVED BY: Item 1 Item 1 Staff Report        Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 5  Packet Pg. 9 of 14  kimley-horn.com 10 S Almaden Blvd, Suite 1250, San Jose, Ca, 95113 669 800 4130 MEMORANDUM To:Ripon Bhatia Senior Engineer - City of Palo Alto, Office of Transportation From:Peter Meyerhofer Taylor Brown Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Date:April 30, 2024 Subject Palo Alto Quiet Zone Initial Investigation The City of Palo Alto (“City”) has retained Kimley-Horn to investigate the feasibility of implementing a quiet zone along the Caltrain corridor within City limits. The crossings included in this study are Churchill Avenue, E Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road (“Study Area”). The City has a fourth at-grade Caltrain crossing at Palo Alto Avenue/Alma Street. This crossing is currently in final design under a separate contract. While it is Kimley-Horn’s understanding that the position of the City is to maintain two separate quiet zones, CFR 222.35(a)(1)(iii) indicates that if two separate quiet zones are to be established in one political jurisdiction, they must be separated by at least one public highway-rail grade crossing. Since these crossings are not separated by a public crossing, all four at-grade crossings will be analyzed as one quiet zone in this study. Kimley-Horn has initiated inquiries regarding the current safety ratings of the three crossings included in the Study Area, and what mitigation measures allow for quiet zone approval per Federal Rail Administration (FRA) guidelines. This precedes any conceptual design, diagnostic meetings, and coordination with Caltrain and CPUC. Kimley-Horn has performed analysis on risk mitigation measures using the FRA Quiet Zone Calculator. Various proposed safety improvements are input into the calculator, which outputs a reduced risk level for the crossing. Kimley-Horn has set up a test quiet zone with the four crossings in the City limits and analyzed several scenarios to determine viable options for quiet zone approval. Assumptions The test quiet zone used in the FRA Quiet Zone Calculator includes the four crossings in the City limits. Existing Conditions The FRA Quiet Zone Calculator uses the existing conditions as a baseline, setting the Supplementary Safety Measures (SSM) to 0, and outputs a risk value to each crossing based on the existing configuration and safety measures. Because the Palo Alto Avenue crossing will be modified to include non-traversable medians (SSM Code 13) in advance of any future quiet zone enhancements, this is included in every scenario, including the existing conditions, as a “Pre-SSM”. The total risk associated with the Quiet Zone is the average of the crossings included in the zone of interest. Item 1 Attachment A: Palo Alto Quiet Zone Technical Memorandum        Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 6  Packet Pg. 10 of 14  Page 2 Table 1: Existing SSM and Risk values associated with Quiet Zone Street Pre-SSM Risk Palo Alto Avenue (Alma Street)13 82,827.10 Churchill Avenue 0 588,964.84 E Meadow Drive 0 295,736.94 W Charleston Road 0 426,060.47 Risk Index with Horns (RIWH)258,527.84 Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI)348,397.34 Per the FRA Quiet Zone Calculator, the Risk Index With Horns for the proposed quiet zone is 258,527.84. This means the Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) cannot exceed this value for a quiet zone to be approved. The SSM value is related to additional improvements to a crossing. The option for the crossings in the Study Area explored at this stage are: •SSM Code 6: Four-Quadrant Gates, Upgrade from Two Quadrant Gates, with Vehicle Presence Detection No other SSM codes were explored due to the following reasons: SSM Definition Reason for Exclusion from Study 1 Temporary Closure Does not align with City’s goals 2 Permanent Closure Does not align with City’s goals 3 Grade Separation Infeasible for the timeline of this study. 4 Four-Quadrant: upgrade from two-quadrant; no vehicle presence detection Does not comply with CPUC regulations surrounding four-quadrant gate systems. 5 Four-Quadrant: upgrade from two-quadrant, with medians and no vehicle presence detection Does not comply with CPUC regulations surrounding four-quadrant gate systems. 6 Four-Quadrant: upgrade from two-quadrant, with vehicle presence detection Investigated. 7 Four-Quadrant: upgrade from two-quadrant, with medians and vehicle presence detection Intersecting roadways/driveways preclude medians from being an accepted length. 8 Four-Quadrant: new installation; no vehicle presence detection All crossings have gates in existing conditions. 9 Four-Quadrant: new installation; with medians and no vehicle presence detection All crossings have gates in existing conditions. 10 Four-Quadrant: new installation; with vehicle presence detection All crossings have gates in existing conditions. 11 Four-Quadrant: new installation; with medians and vehicle presence detection All crossings have gates in existing conditions. 12 Mountable medians with reflective traffic channelizers Intersecting roadways/driveways preclude medians from being an accepted length. Item 1 Attachment A: Palo Alto Quiet Zone Technical Memorandum        Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 7  Packet Pg. 11 of 14  Page 3 13 Non-traversable curb medians with or without channelizers Intersecting roadways/driveways preclude medians from being an accepted length in Study Area. 14 One-way streets with gates Does not align with City’s goals. There are three main methods by which a set of crossings can achieve quiet zone approval: Option 1: Upgrade each crossing. The first option would be to implement SSMs at each crossing. Installing SSMs at each crossing in a quiet zone automatically grants Quiet Zone approval. To maintain quiet zone status, the zone would need periodic updates, including updates to the USDOT Grade Crossing Inventory Form, taking place every 4.5 – 5 years. For Option 1 risk analysis, see Table 3 below. Table 3: SSM and Risk Values, upgrading every crossing. Street Pre-SSM SSM Risk Palo Alto Avenue (Alma Street)13 0 82,827.10 Churchill Avenue 0 6 135,461.91 E Meadow Drive 0 6 68,019.50 W Charleston Road 0 6 97,993.91 Risk Index with Horns (RIWH)258,527.84 Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI)96,075.6 Option 2: Upgrade minimum subset to gain approval. A second way by which a quiet zone can be achieved is by upgrading crossings with SSMs such that the QZRI is less than the RIWH. During this evaluation, it was determined that two crossings in the Study Area are required to be upgraded in order for the Quiet Zone to qualify. For Option 2 risk analysis, see Tables 4, 5, and 6 below. Table 4: SSM and Risk values, upgrading Churchill and Meadow Street Pre-SSM SSM Risk Palo Alto Avenue (Alma Street)13 0 82,827.10 Churchill Avenue 0 6 135,461.91 E Meadow Drive 0 6 68,019.50 W Charleston Road 0 0 426,060.47 Risk Index with Horns (RIWH)258,527.84 Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI)178,092.24 Table 5: SSM and Risk Values, upgrading Meadow and Charleston Street Pre-SSM SSM Risk Palo Alto Avenue (Alma Street)13 0 82,827.10 Churchill Avenue 0 0 588,964.84 E Meadow Drive 0 6 68,019.50 Item 1 Attachment A: Palo Alto Quiet Zone Technical Memorandum        Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 8  Packet Pg. 12 of 14  Page 4 W Charleston Road 0 6 97,993.91 Risk Index with Horns (RIWH)258,527.84 Quiet Zone Risk Index 209,451.34 Table 6: SSM and Risk Values, upgrading Churchill and Charleston Street Pre-SSM SSM Risk Palo Alto Avenue (Alma Street)13 0 82,827.10 Churchill Avenue 0 6 135,461.91 E Meadow Drive 0 0 68,019.50 W Charleston Road 0 6 97,993.91 Risk Index with Horns (RIWH)258,527.84 Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI)153,004.96 Option 3: Alternative Safety Measures In locations where implementing upgrades may be infeasible due to geometry or spatial constraints, Alternative Safety Measures (ASMs) may be implemented. ASMs require a more frequent cycle of re- certification of the quiet zone and are evaluated on a subjective basis. Where SSMs have a numeric value associated with risk reduction (e.g., SSM code 6 is a risk reduction of 0.77), ASMs do not. This is because ASMs do not uniformly impact the risk associated with a crossing. In order to implement ASMs, the FRA would need to sign off on the improvements before they are implemented. “Engineering” ASMs may include roadway changes, such as reprofiling, sight visibility enhancements, or signalization upgrades. “Non-engineering” ASMs could include public outreach initiatives or police enforcement. For the crossings in the Study Area, ASMs may be useful if the City determines four-quadrant gates would not be feasible, specifically related to the limited clearance between the grade crossings and nearby intersections with Alma Street. However, it is important to note the risk associated with implementation of ASMs, due to the increased frequency of recertification (2.5 – 3 years) as well as the subjective evaluation of the safety measures. Option 4: Wayside Horns Wayside horns are allowed to be installed at crossings already equipped with flashing lights and automatic gates. The wayside horn would be placed on the warning device, and oriented to face the roadway. The sound would be directed down the roadway, which has the ability to reduce the overall spread of the noise. However, wayside horns are not the same as establishing a quiet zone. Wayside horns may be an interim measure to reduce the spread of the sound associated with train horns while a more permanent solution is evaluated, planned for, and constructed. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Churchill Avenue is in the final design phases for a safety enhancement funded through Section 130. Through this project, various upgrades are to be implemented at the crossing to enhance user safety, including modifications to pedestrian gate arms and the installation of a pre-signal, interconnected with the traffic signal at Churchill Avenue and Alma Street. While these safety enhancements do not qualify as SSMs, they may qualify as Engineering ASMs, which are subject to approval by the FRA, but may Item 1 Attachment A: Palo Alto Quiet Zone Technical Memorandum        Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 9  Packet Pg. 13 of 14  Page 5 decrease the risk associated with the crossing. The amount by which the risk is impacted is not currently quantifiable given the FRA Quiet Zone Calculator tool. FINDINGS NEXT STEPS Item 1 Attachment A: Palo Alto Quiet Zone Technical Memorandum        Item 1: Staff Report Pg. 10  Packet Pg. 14 of 14