City of Palo Alto, CA

04/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/01/2024 17:36

City Issues Letter to Caltrans SR82 El Camino Real Bikeway Project

City Issues Letter to Caltrans SR82 El Camino Real Bikeway Project

Published on April 01, 2024

April 1, 2024 Update: The City sent a follow-up letter to Caltrans in response to recent meetings and questions from Caltrans staff regarding the outreach and notification plan from Caltrans to vehicle dwellers related to the Caltrans Proposed SR 82 / El Camino Real Bikeway Project. A summary of questions received is included in the letter. Read the letter here(PDF, 250KB).

March 18, 2024 Update: The City sent a letter to Caltrans after engaging Fehr & Peers to conduct an analysis of how the proposed project aligns with the Safe System Approach, sharing bike facilities design comments. Read the letter here(PDF, 3MB).

February 8, 2024 Update: Caltrans manages State Route 82 El Camino Real, and is recommending adding bike lanes as part of their paving project, along El Camino Real in Palo Alto. To engage residents and businesses about the project, Caltrans is hosting a community meeting in February, followed by several other opportunities to share feedback. Community input will inform the City Council discussion tentatively set for April 1.

Join the conversation about the Caltrans State Route 82 El Camino Bikeways Project:

  • Caltrans Hosted Community Meeting: Thursday, February 29 at 6 p.m., Palo Alto High School Media Arts Center Atrium, 50 Embarcadero Road. Download Caltrans' PowerPoint presentation here(PDF, 4MB).
  • Joint Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC)/City/School Transportation Safety Committee (CSTSC) Special Meeting: March 7, 6:30 p.m. at Mitchell Park Community Center Adobe Room, 3700 Middlefield Road.
  • Joint Planning and Transportation Commission/Human Relations Commission Meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 6 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Avenue.
  • City Council Meeting: Tentative-Monday, April 1, 6 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Avenue.

Share feedback with Caltrans and City Staff by adding your input here.

January 2024: Caltrans responded and shared draft bike lane plans for SR 82 (El Camino Real). Staff are working with Caltrans to host a community conversation about the project, where the community can share feedback and ask questions. Read their response here(PDF, 502KB), review the draft plans here(PDF, 8MB).

Originally Published November 20, 2023

Caltrans is advancing it's Route 82 (El Camino Real) Pavement Rehabilitation and ADA Improvements project, the City is actively engaging with Caltrans to shape the future of El Camino Real, particularly regarding the Caltrans proposal of removal of parking for bikeways.

The City of Palo Alto continues to engage with Caltrans regarding the El Camino Real repaving project, which is set to rehabilitate a nine-mile stretch from the Sunnyvale/Mountain View border to the Palo Alto/Menlo Park border. This project, scheduled to span from Fall 2023 to Fall 2025, includes repaving, sidewalk and curb ramp updates for ADA access, enhanced crosswalks at key intersections, and the addition of bike lanes in Mountain View and Los Altos.

For several months, the City has requested additional details from Caltrans on schedules, plans, and outreach for the project. During these discussions, the City became aware of Caltrans interest in creating new bikeways along State Route (SR) 82/El Camino Real.

A recent community meeting, hosted by Senator Becker and Assembly Member Berman in collaboration with Caltrans, detailed the project's phases, including short-term pavement repairs starting in November 2023, sidewalk and curb ramp work beginning January 2024, and permanent pavement work commencing in late Spring 2024. The plan also involves temporary road closures, primarily during nighttime hours, with proactive communication efforts to inform the public about these disruptions.

Caltrans formally notified the City of their proposed SR 82 El Camino Real Bikeway Project in a letter dated November 3, 2023, and since then staff has sought additional details to fully understand reasoning and implications for the community.

On November 17, 2023, the City sent an official communication to Caltrans in response to their proposed addition of new bikeways along SR 82. The City asked several questions about the proposed project and requested additional information in an effort to ensure that the Palo Alto community and businesses potentially impacted by Caltrans plan are given an opportunity to fully understand the details, timeline and opportunities for input.

City safety, data-sharing, and design considerations requested include:

  • Detailed incident/collision data for informed decisions on bike lane necessity and design.
  • Plans for bicycle-safe designs at critical intersections.
  • Analysis of lane vs. parking reduction, including parking-protected bike lanes
  • Integration strategy for a continuous, gap-free bikeway along SR 82.
  • Access to draft bikeway project plans for city feedback.
  • Clarification on bike lane designs: striping only or inclusion of physical buffers.
  • Integration of Cal Ave's closure-related transportation items into the project.
  • Guidance on adopting a resolution for parking removal on El Camino Real.
  • Information on outreach and notification for parking removal and bike lane installation, focusing on impacts on un-housed individuals and businesses.

Assistance from Caltrans in engaging with the community and facilitating a thorough and inclusive communication process will be essential to help the City Council make an informed decision about the installation of bike lanes on SR 82 and to ensure that the needs and concerns of all affected parties are adequately addressed.

Next Steps

Staff are working with Caltrans to host a community conversation about the project, where the community can share feedback and ask questions.

January 11, 2023 Caltrans Letter to City(PDF, 502KB)and Draft Bike Lane Plans(PDF, 8MB)

The City requested a prompt reply by December 15, 2023 from Caltrans. This timeframe will ensure that the City is responsive to Caltrans request to have a resolution adopted by the City Council by April 2024 to remove parking on El Camino Real.

November 3, 2023 Caltrans Letter(PDF, 256KB)

November 17, 2023 City Letter to Caltrans(PDF, 224KB)

Online Resources

City Efforts Advancing Safer and More Accessible Streets

Learn about these two efforts and how they complement one another by reading a recent community update.

Project Webpages