Menlo Park Grade Separation Planning


Most Recent Update: January 16, 2019

Resident New Grade Separation Recommendation

In October 2017 and March 13, 2018 – A small group of Menlo Park residents recommended the City Council consider using fully elevated grade separations at Ravenswood, Oak Grove and Glenwood Avenues AND a fully elevated and open rail structure with accessible space underneath in the train station area between Ravenswood and Oak Grove. The latter would enable the City to create a central plaza that extends from Merrill to Alma for community events, entertainment and informal social activities. It would also serve as a landmark gateway for users of Caltrains. The popular Redwood City Courthouse Square is a sterling example of a potential vibrant hub Menlo Park might create on a smaller scale. A civic plaza at the East end of Santa Cruz Avenue between Merrill and the tracks is one of the major recommendations for new public spaces included in the City Downtown/El Camino Specific Plan (2012).The group includes an architect, two rail transportation planners and former mayors of Menlo Park.

The City Council had studied two grade separation alternatives in 2017 and in the end does not enthusiastically support either one.

View Grade Separation Recommendation

Overview

The Menlo Park City Council is currently evaluating where and how best to separate its primary east-west corridors, e.g., Ravenswood, Oak Grove, Glenwood and Encinal. It hopes to improve safety and avoid future vehicle congestion on these and nearby streets. The current planning effort for grade separations started in early 2017.

Primary Alternatives Considered

Alternative A (studied) – Ravenswood underpass; tracks not relocated.
Alternative C (studied) – Elevate tracks and lower Ravenswood, Oak Grove and Glenwood
Alternative FEGS (considering a study) – Fully elevate rails over Ravenswood, Oak Grove and Glenwood; do not lower streets.

Tunnel/Trench (not studied) – considered too costly/not fundable 


Recent City Planning Milestones

January 2019

The new City Council listens to an update on grade separations and …

  • Abandons Alternative A (Ravenswood underpass)
  • Selects Alternative C (Hybrid separations at Ravenswood, Oak Grove and Glenwood) as its preferred alternative 
  • Shows little interest in the study of a tunnel (too expensive)

          Staff to return with a more detailed FEGS study proposal in February.

December 2018

City staff publishes initial an initial scope for a study of fully elevated grade separations for Ravenswood, Oak Grove and Glenwood. and requests resident feedback by January 3.

November 2018

The two Council members on the Rail Subcommittee are no longer in office. Rich Cline did not run for re-election and Kirsten Keith was defeated. (Ray Mueller and Drew Combs replace them on the subcommittee.

May 2018

The Council changes its mind and instead approves Alternative A which only provides a Ravenswood underpass.  The 3 to 5 years of traffic disruptions associated with the construction of Alternative C was now considered unacceptable. The Council also instructed city staff to return with a proposal for a study of fully elevated grade separations (FEGS) at Ravenswood, Oak Grove and Glenwood and city staff said it would be available in the July-August 2018 timeframe. The new study is to be performed in parallel with the continued planning for Alternative A.

October 2017

The Council reviewed the trade-offs between Alternatives A and C and two council members were inclined to support C.  However, lacking a quorum, the Council could not approve anything. Two members still strongly preferred a moving the rails underground  but conceded this option likely was not a realistic. The Staff Report Proposed that the City Council approve the additional study of both alternatives. View report.

City Planning Documents & Staff Reports

An historical record for this project including a calendar, presentations, and staff reports is maintained on the City website.

Project History Archive (2002-2017)

See Menlo Park City website 

Additional Peninsula Grade Separation Resources

Future Caltrain Systems & Services The Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project (PCEP) is a key component of the Caltrain Modernization program. The PCEP would electrify the Caltrain Corridor from San Francisco’s 4th and King Caltrain Station to approximately the Tamien Caltrain Station, convert diesel-hauled to Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains, and increase service up to six Caltrain trains per peak hour per direction. Operating speed will be up to 79mph, which is what it is today. Completion is projected for 2022.

Caltrain HSR Compatibility Blog – “The passage of California Proposition 1A (2008) set in motion a complete reconstruction of the railroad between San Jose and San Francisco. This blog exists to discuss compatibility between HSR and Caltrain, integration issues, and the impact on adjoining communities.”

Green Caltrain (Friends if Caltrain Blog) – Friends of Caltrain is a nonprofit grass-roots advocacy organization supporting stable funding for Caltrain and better  service. We have over 3000 supporters in the San Francisco Peninsula Corridor between San Francisco and San Jose, including all  cities on the line.

Palo Alto Grade Separations The Palo Alto Rail Program – now called Connecting Palo Alto – is a community based process to address long-standing challenges associated with at-grade crossings on the Caltrain corridor that runs through the community. This process will inform decisions affecting both community aesthetics and mobility choices for many future generations.

San Bruno Grade Separations (Completed in 2014) – The $155 million San Bruno Grade Separation Project elevates the Caltrain tracks above three existing at-grade street crossings at San Bruno, San Mateo and Angus avenues. This will improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians, and it will reduce traffic congestion to and from Highway 101 in the City of San Bruno. In addition, a new elevated Caltrain station has been built and opened to the public on April 1, 2014 between San Bruno and San Mateo avenues, replacing the existing station at Sylvan Avenue. A total of 201 parking spaces and a “kiss and ride” lot will serve the station at the site of the former San Bruno Lumber.

San Mateo Grade Separations (In Construction) – Caltrain, in cooperation with the City of San Mateo, will raise the tracks and slightly lower the road (grade separate) at E. 25th Avenue in San Mateo. This will improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians, and it will reduce local traffic congestion in San Mateo. In addition to separating the tracks and road at E. 25th Avenue, the project will provide an opportunity to complete east-west street connections at 28th and 31st Avenues in conformance with the Bay Meadows Transit Oriented Development Plan. As part of the project improvements, Caltrain will build a new elevated Hillsdale Station located at E. 28th Avenue. The new station will offer updated amenities and will allow for better safety and reduced traffic.

Burlingame Grade Separations (Environmental Impact Report) –  Caltrain, in cooperation with the City of Burlingame, will separate the tracks from the road at Broadway in Burlingame. This will improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and Caltrain railroad operations, as well as reduce local traffic congestion in Burlingame. The project will also construct a new elevated Broadway Station with new amenities that eliminates the current hold-out rule in which only one train is allowed at the station at a time.

Redwood City Grade Separations – (Early Planning – no online information)