Quarry Road Transit Connection at El Camino Park

Quarry Road Rendering

The City Council advanced conceptual plans for a proposed transit connection by taking formal steps on June 10, 2024 toward undedicating a portion of El Camino Park for the project's implementation, including adopting legislation needed to place a ballot measure on the November 2024 election to repurpose a specified area of the park for the transit connection.

El Camino Park consists of approximately 10.75 acres of land and is leased by Stanford to the City. The Park was dedicated by the City in 1965 by ordinance for recreational and conservation purposes.

The proposed project would develop up to a 0.33-acre a strip of the underused, passive portion of El Camino Park to provide a direct transit connection from El Camino Real to the transit center. This area of the park does not have playing fields but does provide bike and pedestrian circulation throughout that serves the park. Any portion of the strip of land not needed for the transit connection would be rededicated as parkland. The project plans to improve multi-modal movement to and through the park and seeks to enhance the use and enjoyment of El Camino Park and the recreational amenities provided to the residents of Palo Alto and the surrounding communities.

Transit Connection Proposal

The Quarry Road transit connection proposal constructs a roadway for transit vehicles from the intersection of Quarry Road & El Camino Real to the Palo Alto Transit Center and facilitates direct transit movement onto and from El Camino Real.

Enhancements are designed to improve safety, access and connectivity by:

  • Reducing bus transit times by an estimated 5-8 minutes per trip.
  • Alleviating congestion at the University Avenue/El Camino Real interchange and University Circle by streamlining bus movements and mitigating the need for buses to navigate through densely trafficked areas.
  • Adding pedestrian and bicycle paths within El Camino Park and at the intersection of Quarry Road and El Camino Real.

Supported by various goals and policies outlined in the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan, this project emphasizes the improvement of transportation infrastructure and multimodal connectivity. The proposal also aligns with the Caltrain electrification project, which will alter train frequency and potential increases in bus and shuttle services to meet service planning needs.

Letter of Intent Between City of Palo Alto and Stanford

To provide a more complete context for the proposed Quarry Road project, including its relationship with the Palo Alto Transit Center and El Camino Park, a letter of intent was finalized between the City of Palo Alto and Stanford outlining actions that each party plans to undertake, including:

  • Responsibilities for the funding, design, and construction of the roadway. This includes Stanford contributing up to $4 million for completion of the project, as well as maintenance funding;
  • Extension of the lease for playing fields at El Camino Park for an additional ten years through 2052; and,
  • Undertaking a long-term visioning process for the Palo Alto Transit Center that addresses dynamic public spaces, multi-modal transit needs, and community engagement.

Read the Letter of Intent.(PDF, 140KB)

Palo Alto Transit Center Bus & Shuttle Service

The Palo Alto Transit Center (PATC) is the mobility hub of Palo Alto and has the second highest Caltrain ridership on the corridor. SamTrans, Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority (VTA), AC Transit, and Dumbarton Express all run buses to the PATC to complement Caltrain service and connect Palo Alto to San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, and the East Bay, respectively. Additionally, Stanford’s Marguerite shuttle service and other private shuttles provide last-mile connections from the PATC to campus facilities for employees and visitors. In total, roughly 600 buses serve the transit center daily and about half are Marguerite shuttles.

Next Steps & Timeline

Estimated Cost: The estimated construction cost for the proposed project is roughly $4.3 million, with efforts underway to secure funding through external sources, including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Project Timeline: The outcome of the 2024 election and subsequent design development will drive the project's timeline and final implementation steps.

Learn More

June 10, 2024 Staff Report & Attachments(PDF, 15MB)

Conceptual Site Plan(PDF, 8MB)

Ordinance Calling for an Election(PDF, 78KB)

Resolution Calling for an Election(PDF, 2MB)

Ballot Measure D

Quarry Road Rendering

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