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Phase 1 of Neighborhood Traffic Safety & Bicycle Boulevard Projects

Project typeTraffic and Transportation

Project Description

Phase 1 of the Neighborhood Traffic Safety & Bicycle Boulevard (NTSBB) Project represented a significant step towards Palo Alto’s vision of a system of neighborhood bicycle routes that provide continuous, low-stress on-street bikeways with travel time and safety improvements to support a growing number of commuters choosing to ride a bicycle for transportation. For pedestrians, the project added several crosswalks (including some with art installations), improved sightlines at intersections, and created more inviting cycling conditions in the street which means fewer bicycles riding on city sidewalks. Neighborhood traffic calming also makes Palo Alto’s residential communities less desirable as short-cuts for regional commuters and enhances the community’s quality of life. These improvements incorporate many suggestions developed through the City’s Safe Routes to School's partnership with the school district, parents, and students.

Many intersections underwent significant redesign with curb extensions to moderate vehicle speeds and create safer, more sustainable streets. The project included two traffic circles, new/refreshed crosswalks throughout, chicanes (in-street islands), slotted speed humps, curb extensions, medians, and ADA curb ramps at crosswalks.

In-street chicanes with new street trees have been installed along Ross Road, providing both traffic calming, shade, and neighborhood beautification. Landscaping was also included in many of the curb extensions project-wide, in addition to green stormwater infrastructure which reduces the amount of urban stormwater pollution that enters the San Francisco Bay.

Bicycle roadway markings such as sharrows and bicycle boulevard legends, as well as wayfinding signage, help define routes and orient cyclists and pedestrians to local institutions and regional destinations. Green paint is used sparingly to indicate important conflict areas and increase the visibility of cyclists where needed.

Scope of Work

Roadway Markings & Wayfinding: Refreshed crosswalks, sharrows, bicycle boulevard legends (stencils on the road), and signage to identify routes and orient cyclists and pedestrians to local and regional destinations
Traffic Calming Features: Speed humps, curb extensions, in-street chicanes, raised crossings, raised intersections, traffic circles, and roundabouts to moderate speeds, improve pedestrian visibility, and encourage yielding to pedestrians
Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Bioretention in the form of landscaped curb extensions to collect urban stormwater runoff and reduce and clean its flow before entering San Francisco Bay
Decorative Crosswalk Installation on Louis Road at Amarillo/Fielding
A new shared-use path connecting to Ohlone Elementary School

Project Status

As of 2021, NTSBB projects are on hold pending the development of a Citywide Community Engagement plan.

However, beginning December 2021 through January 2022, the median islands of the traffic circles on Ross Road will be modified. The work includes the removal of a portion (tip) of the median islands and truncated domes at both the intersections of Ross Road & E Meadow Drive, and Ross Road & Moreno Ave. Due to construction delays, this work will be performed through March/April 2022.

In November 2020, the following improvements were made:

Ross Road & E. Meadow Drive: Add two‐way stop controls on E. Meadow Drive and removal of yield controls.
Louis Road & Moreno Ave (West Leg or Northerly intersection): Addition of stop sign on Louis Road to make this intersection a three‐way stop controlled intersection.
Louis Road & Moreno Ave (East Leg or Southerly intersection): Removal of stop sign on Louis Road at this intersection which will make this intersection a side street stop controlled intersection with stop on Moreno Ave only.
Louis Road & Fielding Drive: Removal of stop sign on Louis Road which will make the intersection a side street stop controlled intersection with stop on Fielding Drive only.
Louis Road & Amarillo Ave: Addition of stop sign on Louis Road to make this intersection a three‐way stop controlled intersection

NTSBB Phase 1 was partially constructed in 2018.

It is discussed in this blog post from January 8, 2020: Palo Alto Bicycle Boulevards Update.

It was also discussed in a staff report that went to the City Council meeting on February 24, 2020. This staff report contains an evaluation of the data and community feedback that led to recommendations for modifications of the existing project and a path to move forward with pending bicycle boulevard projects.

The City Council held a Study Session on June 12, 2018 to hear from the community about Phase 1. A resulting informational report from the City Council meeting on July 30, 2018 includes responses to community questions.

Upgrade of the existing Ellen Fletcher Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard was to be included in Phase 1 along with new bicycle boulevard roadway markings, wayfinding signing, two raised intersections, and several traffic circles.