AgdaPkt 2018-10-01 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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Menlo Park The City of Menlo Park recently completed a project study report for the Ravenswood Avenue Railroad Crossing Project. Menlo Park focused on Ravenswood, but examined all at-grade crossings with the study. In May, the City Council of Menlo Park selected the preferred alternative to be Ravenswood Avenue going fully under the railroad tracks (cost estimate is $140M-$190M). Palo Alto The City of Palo Alto has been studying grade separations extensively over the past eight years, with an interest in the feasibility of trench and tunnel options. They are currently trying to narrow down the number of potential grade separation alternatives. Here are some key findings from some of their recent work: · Planning-level cost estimate to grade separate all crossings underground ranges from $2.4B to $4B (drops to $300M - $1B for a subset of the crossings) · It would be extremely challenging to trench or tunnel the railroad for the whole city · Key Challenges o San Francisquito Creek – railroad tracks would have to be 60’ below grade to get under the creek; don’t think it would be possible to get a permit to tunnel under the creek o Alma would be used as alternative rail route during construction, creating significant traffic impacts o Requires reconstructing all existing stations underground and providing new access o Funding need for ongoing operations and maintenance costs · A property-tax secured bond was identified as the best funding opportunity and was estimated to generate $143M - $713M ANALYSIS As the City initiates the Whipple Grade Separation Study, there are a number of interrelated issues that will need to be considered. These include: - Other potential rail-related transportation projects (high-speed rail blended service, Dumbarton rail, Broadway streetcar, transit center changes) - Potential development projects near the railroad tracks, and - Their respective impacts on access and mobility across the rail corridor 8.B. - Page 4