Year-long El Camino improvement project in Mountain View and Palo Alto scheduled for fall start: Roadshow
Plus: Caltrain adding new signal system to help trains communicate with railroad crossing gates
Q: I was thrilled to read in your column a few months ago that, after sporadic pothole filling after winter storms, the long-overdue repaving of El Camino in Palo Alto and Mountain View would begin in August or September. We’re nearing the end of October and still no repaving! Meanwhile, potholes and root bumps continue to grow in size. Do you have any new information?
Marion Krause, Robert Sutis, Jerry Brodkey, Lydia Cooper, Larry Castelli, Caroline Bliss, J.J. Luranc, Jim Evans, Jim Wissick, Ed King, and many others were among those honored.
A: According to information provided last week by Victor, the Caltrans spokesman for Santa Clara County, construction will begin this fall. El Camino runs from 0.7 mile south of Highway 237 to Sand Hill Road. It will take more than a year to complete and will be completed in spring 2025.
The work will improve the road surface on El Camino and increase the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists on the route. The existing road surface will be partially removed and improved with a rubberized asphalt concrete overlay.
Existing curb ramps will be upgraded to meet ADA standards. Pedestrian signals will be improved, and crosswalk markings will be brightened. Pedestrian hybrid beacon crossings will be installed at three locations: where El Camino intersects Bonita Avenue, Crestview Drive, and Pettis Avenue.
Six miles of Class II or Class IV bicycle lanes will be installed (for more information, visit https://bikesiliconvalley.org/resources/bikeway-design). Delineations for pedestrian and bicycle crossings will also be improved.
More information about the project can be found at https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-santa-clara-sr82-pavement-rehabilitation-and-ada-improvements.
Q: I have a question about the Palo Alto train signal at Alma Street and Churchill Avenue. Since Caltrain upgraded the infrastructure at that intersection to accommodate electrification, when a northbound Caltrain arrives at the California Avenue station, the train signal and gates have been activated. Many motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are left stranded while the signal is activated. After the same train leaves the station and approaches the Alma/Churchill intersection, the signal returns to normal operation. Could you please ask Caltrain if the signal can be adjusted so that it does not activate in this manner? Idling cars waste a lot of time and produce unnecessary emissions, which is clearly not desirable and contradicts the environmental benefits of Caltrain electrification.
John
A: Dan-the-Caltrain-spokesman responded that they are aware of the issue and expect to have a solution by early 2024.
The new signal system that controls railroad crossing gates as part of Caltrain electrification cannot tell whether a train is stopping at or bypassing a station. Caltrain will install wireless, real-time communication between trains and gates, indicating when a train is due to arrive at the station.
