Homer Avenue Caltrain Undercrossing, Palo Alto

The $4.5-million project consisted of the design and construction of a new pedestrian/bicycle undercrossing (73-ft. long, 20-ft. wide, and 9-ft. high) under Caltrain railroad tracks, approximately 800-ft. south of the Palo Alto Caltrain station. The undercrossing is located between the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and the Homer Avenue and Alma Street intersection. The undercrossing provides access from the south of Forest Avenue residential and commercial areas to the PAMF campus and to the Caltrain station via the new bike path along Urban Lane.

The need for a new pedestrian/bicycle crossing of the railroad tracks was identified during the review of the plan for the new PAMF campus and SOFA Coordinated Area Plan Study. A feasibility study for the pedestrian/bicycle crossing through the Caltrain right-of-way was prepared. The study estimated the facility would attract up to 1,800 users a day.

The undercrossing project involved relocation/lowering of fiber optics along the railroad tracks, raising of the tracks, secant pile drilling with cement deep soil mixing technology, an open trench cut under the railroads, installation of pre-cast and cast-in-place undercrossing structures, installation of stairs and ADA compliant ramps at entry ways, installation of a storm drain pump station, realignment of a 60-KV main electrical line, and installation of new traffic signal at Alma Street and Homer Avenue catering to pedestrian and bicyclist traffic.

The project was fully funded by Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, State Transportation Improvement Program and other grant funds and local development fees.

The project was under expedited schedule with limited resources and funding, according to the city. The project had to be accelerated since the design and construction documents needed to be complete within one year in order to start construction in 2003 to meet deadlines to secure grant funding. No city funds were available so project costs had to be covered by grants and local development funds.

One of the major challenges for the project was coordinating and obtaining approvals within schedule from agencies such as Caltrans, Public Utility Commission, Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board who controls the railroad tracks, and fiber optics companies such as AT&T, Sprint and MCI Worldcom. Approvals were also needed from the city entities like the Architectural Review Board, Historical Review Board, Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee, and Building Department. Due to State/Federal funding, the project had to follow strict contracting, documentation and management procedures per Caltrans requirements.

The project site was sensitive in nature as well. Since the undercrossing was being constructed through the PCJBP easement, the contractor, Anderson Pacific, had to work around railroads servicing commute and freight trains 24 hours a day. Various utilities were present along railroads such as fiber optics and electrical main power lines which had to be relocated and realigned. Relocations of utilities were tremendous tasks by themselves. Any damage or downtime of the fiber lines could have cost the city millions of dollars.

The construction method for the undercrossing was accomplished by drilling soldier piles then open trench cut. Therefore, majority of the construction for the structural frame was done during nights and weekends when train services were at minimal. The project site was in close proximity to commercial and residential establishments, a hospital, and hotels, resulting in noise sensitivity issues. Numerous outreach meetings and programs were carried out to keep the neighbors informed.

Due to numerous other difficult facets of this project, the project team encountered challenges in all directions during the entire duration of the project. However, with the cooperation from various agencies and diligence from project team members, the undercrossing was built in budget and within schedule.

Judges' Comments:

• "This project went well beyond just meeting the needs and responded to the community in a thoughtful manner."
  
  
• The big plus for this project is that it overcame so many difficulties within the community."

Project Team:

Owner: City of Palo Alto
Architect: Steven Grover Architects
Construction manager: TRS Consultants Inc.
Program manager: Palo Alto Public Works Engineering
General contractor: Anderson Pacific Engineering Construction Inc.
Engineer: Nolte Associates Inc.

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