Phase 2 of Neighborhood Traffic Safety & Bicycle Boulevard Projects

• Project typeTraffic and Transportation

Project Description

Following Phase 1 of the Neighborhood Traffic Safety and Bicycle Boulevard Projects (NTSBB), Phase 2 continues the work to implement Palo Alto’s vision of a system of neighborhood bicycle routes that provides continuous, low-stress on-street bikeways with travel time and safety improvements to support a growing number of residents and commuters choosing to ride a bicycle for transportation. For pedestrians, the project adds several crosswalks, improves sightlines at intersections, and creates more safe cycling conditions in 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.

The project includes raised intersections, raised crosswalks, traffic circles, and new/refreshed crosswalks throughout. Chicanes (in-street islands), speed humps, speed tables, curb extensions, medians, and ADA curb ramps at crosswalks. Many intersections will undergo a redesign with curb extensions to moderate vehicle speeds and create safer, more sustainable streets.

Bicycle roadway markings such as sharrows and bicycle boulevard legends, as well as wayfinding signage, will help define routes and orient cyclists and pedestrians to local institutions and regional destinations. Green paint will be 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
• Potential 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

Project Status

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

Phase 2 includes similar design features to Phase 1, and approved concept plans can be found below, separated out by street segment. Work will be completed by a separate construction contract which will be awarded through a competitive process. The construction contract will go before City Council for consideration before any construction will begin. A pre-construction community meeting will be held prior to construction.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no meetings currently scheduled.

Project Documents

City of Palo Alto Bicycle + Pedestrian Transportation Plan(PDF, 19MB) (Adopted July 2012)
NTSBB Project FAQs (PDF, 613KB)
NTSBB Project FAQs (with pictures)(PDF, 1MB)

Location

NTSBB Phase 2 includes work on these roads:

• Bryant Street Extension (Bryant Street, Redwood Circle, Carlson Court, Ely Place, Duncan Place, Creekside Drive, Nelson Drive, Shasta Drive, and Mackay Drive.)
• Maybell Avenue, Donald Drive, Georgia Avenue
• Park Boulevard, Stanford Avenue, Wilkie Way