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A rendering showing what the Middle Avenue Undercrossing project will look like. View is from El Camino Real looking toward Alma Street. Courtesy city of Menlo Park. 
A rendering showing what the Middle Avenue Undercrossing project will look like. View is from Alma Street looking toward El Camino Real. Courtesy city of Menlo Park. 
A rendering showing what the Middle Avenue Undercrossing project will look like. View is from Alma Street looking toward El Camino Real. Courtesy city of Menlo Park. 
A rendering showing what the Middle Avenue Undercrossing project will look like. Courtesy city of Menlo Park.
During its meeting on May 7, the Menlo Park City Council unanimously voted to enter into a $2 million memorandum of understanding with Caltrain to complete the design, environmental clearance, and contractor selection for a pedestrian and bicycle undercrossing of the Caltrain railroad in the vicinity of Middle Avenue. Though all council members were supportive of the project in concept, many expressed concerns about rising cost estimates from Caltrain.
The undercrossing will connect Alma Street near Burgess Park to El Camino Real at the open space plaza that is part of Stanford’s Middle Plaza at 500 El Camino Real, according to a city webpage about the project.
Preliminary plans for the project were approved by council in August 2023. The $2 million will be spent on the first phase of the project, which Menlo Park is completing in partnership with Caltrain. Construction of the undercrossing is scheduled to take place starting in 2026.
Though this is just the preliminary phase of the project, the council expressed excitement for the connectivity that this undercrossing will bring to the city for pedestrians and cyclists once it is completed.
“This Middle (Avenue) undercrossing project is really a centerpiece of what we’re trying to accomplish here in our city with connectivity,” said Council member Jen Wolosin.
Vice Mayor Drew Combs agreed, saying, “I think that there has been no debate, that this is a critical project for the community. … I just want to reiterate that this is something of which there is as close to unanimity as you’re ever gonna get in Menlo Park, and support across the community.”
Concerns over potential project costs
Project cost estimates have been updated a number of times. In September 2023, the construction costs were estimated to range between $23 to $35 million, and the soft costs for design, environmental review, project management and other staff time were estimated at $2.2 million. In February 2024, those estimates were raised to $34 million for construction, based on a review of construction bids from other projects, and $6.1 million for soft costs.
Most recently in March 2024, soft costs were again raised to an estimated $28 million. Construction estimates remained the same, bringing the total estimated cost of the project to $62 million.
“I have to say it was really jaw dropping to read the staff report and to learn about the costs that Caltrain is projecting and the fee that they’re projecting to charge Menlo Park. And, to be honest, it almost feels … like Caltrain doesn’t want this project to happen,” said Wolosin. “I mean, the costs have escalated so much that I feel like it’s putting the entire project in jeopardy, which really hurts our city’s ability to have a connected community.”
Adina Levin, a Menlo Park resident, was also concerned about the rising cost estimates for this project.
“The staff report and the costs are kind of perplexing. Is the doubling of the cost due to utility relocation?” asked Levin. “What is the reason for the higher than the industry norms in terms of soft costs? There are cost escalations all around.”
Caltrain representative Robert Bernard responded, saying that the high cost estimates include allowances for unforeseen costs.
“The soft costs that we shared also included an extensive level of contingencies, project reserves, and money for escalation kind of rolled into that. So it’s not all staff time,” said Bernard. “It is what we think is the unallocated project risk in that number as well.”
Bernard said that the initial $2 million that the council approved will be spent on increasing the level of certainty around what the project will actually cost.
“Our next step is to invest a small amount of money to increase our level of cost certainty and schedule certainty,” he said. “And really define what is the appropriate level of contingency as opposed to what we think it is today.”
Menlo Park’s Public Works Director Azalea Mitch said that the initial $2 million spent on this project will likely be taken from grant funding that the city has received.
“We are currently working on a grant application to address the funding shortfalls on the project,” said Mitch.
Menlo Park has taken other steps toward completing the undercrossing project. On May 6, the city closed on the purchase of a property in the 700-800 block of El Camino Real to serve as a location for the project.
I always want Caltrain Electrifications and California High-Speed Rail in California and I always love Caltrain Electrifications and California High-Speed Rail in California.
Thank you City Council for your continued efforts in support of active mobility in Menlo Park. It has been documented that cities and towns have witnessed boosts to their economy upon improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, such as increased sales, commercial rent and job creation. One case study estimated that 11 to 14 jobs are created per $1 million invested in cycling and walking projects compared to the seven jobs created when investing in highways.
Finally, traveling by foot or bike even improves equity, social cohesion, perceptions of security and liveability. After Istanbul, Turkey, pedestrianized its peninsula, a survey revealed that 68% of pedestrian respondents felt more comfortable in the area. Many low-income populations also live with little transport access or unsafe and inconvenient routes to their destinations. Constructing safe active travel networks can improve access to opportunities and services for these disadvantaged groups. Ultimately, people’s physical, mental, social and economic health benefit from the ability to walk or bike in safe environments.
http://www.no710.com/_better_solutions_rs/baltimore_dec20.pdf