Station Details

Bicycle access to platforms Long-term responsibility Way‐finding and informational signage at the San • Provide a connection (ramp or stairs) through the Mateo Caltrain station is ample and attractive. fence leading from the north end of the northbound platform to Railroad Avenue, which would benefit There are elevators and stairways (with stair channels all passengers, and discourage cyclists from riding for bicycles) from each platform to the underground on the platform. parking garage. The garage provides a grade‐separated platform crossing at this station; passengers may also Multi-agency responsibility cross the tracks along First Street. Bicyclists exiting the • Work with the City of San Mateo to take over elevators on either platform are reported to have management of the bicycle lockers, as the City unintended conflicts with passing pedestrians. wishes to relinquish responsibility.

Passengers with bicycles headed for northbound trains have to walk a long way to the north end of the northbound platform, which is very narrow and constrained. Bicyclists can ride through the surface See following pages for illustrations of issues parking lot to get closer to the north end of the and recommendations Stairway channel southbound platform before dismounting to walk on the platform. The northern end of the southbound platform—where the bicycle car lands—is the narrowest portion of the platform.

Recommendations

Near-term Caltrain responsibility • Convert 18 existing keyed lockers to electronic lockers, install 18 new electronic lockers, and move two bicycle rack spaces to be available for bumped bicycles. • Pave part of the existing unpaved area adjacent to Fence at north end of northbound the north end of the southbound platform for two platform bike rack spaces for bumped bikes. • Relocate existing bicycle racks to the station plaza area for better convenience and visibility.

Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 61 Appendix B

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Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 63 Appendix B

Hillsdale Station Table B-5: Bicycle profile Hillsdale station Total rack spaces 12 Key features Occupied rack spaces 3 Total locker spaces 22 The Hillsdale station has especially long, narrow platforms that are elevated between 15 and 20 feet Rented lockers 11 above street level, the result of a recent reconstruction AM passenger boardings, northbound (NB) 745 project. AM passenger boardings, southbound (SB) 300 AM passenger boardings with bikes, NB 36 Recent station history AM passenger boardings with bikes, SB 14 In 2005, the Hillsdale Station platforms were extended Observed bumps (number, time, direction) 3, PM, NB to the north to their current location. Bicycle access to station Station plans From the east: The City of San Mateo has recently The San Mateo County Transportation Authority is constructed a multi‐use trail, known as the Franklin performing a study to examine alternatives to grade Path, from the Bay Meadows Phase I development that separate the existing at‐grade highway‐rail crossings at ends at Pacific Avenue at the southern edge of the east 25th Avenue and either 28th or 31st Avenue. Some of parking lot of the Hillsdale Station. There are no the alternatives being studied require the station to be bicycle lanes on Pacific Avenue, but the City of San relocated to the north. A grade separation project Mateo is awaiting the completion of the nearby Bay could begin construction as early as 2011 if it does not Meadows Phase II project before making roadway impact railroad operations or relocate the station. configuration changes in the area.

The City of San Mateo is reviewing the proposed Bay Passengers who access the station by bike from the Meadows Phase II project, which could include multi‐ north can travel through the east Bay story office buildings alongside the northbound tracks, Meadows/Caltrain parking lot. However, when the as part of a larger mixed‐use transit‐oriented gate is closed, cyclists are forced to weave between development. Under this plan, Delaware Street could parked cars and onto a walkway. be extended to Pacific Boulevard. There are no bicycle lanes on Hillsdale Boulevard, the primary east/west roadway near the station, where it goes under the tracks. The Hillsdale Boulevard Route through Bay Meadows when overcrossing/intersection of El Camino Real, and El gate is closed

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Camino Real itself, are intimidating for all but the most The stairway to the southbound platform from the experienced bicyclists. south parking lot on the west side of the tracks (at the south‐west corner of El Camino Real and Hillsdale Bicycle parking Avenue) does not have a stairway channel. Neither is there an ADA‐accessible ramp. Using this stairway There is no bicycle parking on the east side of the allows cyclists to avoid crossing busy East Hillsdale station. Two ribbon racks and twenty‐two lockers are Boulevard. installed near the station building in the west‐side parking lot on asphalt, which has settled and is no Passengers report that the at‐grade crossing arm gates longer level. As a result, four of the lockers are at this station malfunction more frequently than at inoperable. Cyclists report that calls to the posted other stations (usually coming down in the absence of locker rental number at the City of San Mateo, which trains). Some cyclists suggest widening the at‐grade manages the lockers, are not returned. crossings; however FRA, PUC and Caltrain safety regulations and standards that govern the design and Bicycle access to platforms operation of these crossings prevent widening. Track‐crossing gate arm Access from the street and station parking lots to either platform at the Hillsdale station is via stairs (none of Recommendations which have stairway channels) and ADA ramps (on Near-term Caltrain responsibility which bicyclists can walk their bikes). Since stairs and • Convert eight existing keyed lockers to electronic ramps land at the center and south end of the platform, lockers, and retain two keyed lockers by the station the location of these facilities adds a slight detour for building in the west parking lot. passengers with bicycles destined for the north bicycle cars. There are at‐grade crossings between platforms at • Install two‐to‐six bicycle rack spaces in the east and the north and south ends of the platforms; however the west parking lots for bumped bicycles, as close to relative distance of these crossings from the stairs and the stairways as possible. ADA ramps tempts some cyclists to ride on the • Install 20 electronic and two keyed bicycle lockers in platform between the stairs/ramps and the at‐grade the east parking, some of which can be relocated crossings. Some cyclists report also using the at‐grade and upgraded from existing lockers in the west crossings to avoid riding on Hillsdale Avenue to cross parking lot. the tracks on through‐trips (i.e. from west San Mateo to • Reinstall west parking lot bicycle lockers on a level Bay Meadows.) This is an especially important concrete pad. situation to address at this station because both platforms are relatively narrow. Mini‐highs (to Long-term Caltrain responsibility facilitate boarding Bombardier trains) are located on • Install stairway channels on the stairway from the both platforms at this station. south‐west parking lot to the southbound platform.

Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 65 Appendix B

Multi-agency responsibility • Work with the City of San Mateo to take over management of the bicycle lockers, as the City wishes to relinquish responsibility. • Work with Bay Meadows to provide an opening in the fence (separate from the walkway opening) along the Bay Meadows/east parking lot to allow cyclists to conveniently travel north‐south. (Short‐ term.) • Work with the City of San Mateo, Caltrans, and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority to install bicycle lanes on Hillsdale Boulevard and El Camino Real. (Long‐term.) • Work with the City of San Mateo to ensure installation of bicycle lanes on Pacific Avenue as part of the Bay Meadows Phase II project. • Work with the San Mateo County Transportation Authority to ensure that all grade separation projects include bicycle lanes.

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See following pages for illustrations of issues and recommendations

Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 67 Appendix B

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Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 69 Appendix B

Redwood City Station crossing between platforms. There are also two pedestrian entrances directly from Winslow Street and Middlefield Road to the northbound platform. Key features Sequoia Station shopping center and its expansive The Redwood City Caltrain station serves as the timed‐ parking lot extend from El Camino Real and Jefferson transfer station for passengers changing to/from Street to the Caltrain station, with direct pedestrian limited‐stop trains. The station is in revitalized access to the southbound platform. downtown Redwood City, which is becoming a vibrant and active district, and is immediately adjacent to and Access to the southbound platform from the SamTrans accessible from Sequoia Station shopping center. parking lot by the bus bays is very visible. From the southbound platform looking north, the Broadway Recent station history station exit through the City plaza is difficult to see. The ADA ramp from Sequoia Station to the Hardscape and landscape design also narrows access southbound platform was rebuilt in 2007. through the City plaza.

Station plans Table B-6: Bicycle profile The San Mateo County Transportation Authority will be conducting a footprint study for potential grade Total rack spaces 20 separations of the railroad tracks near the station. As a Occupied rack spaces 20 result, the station could be shifted north or south in the Total locker spaces 52 long‐term. Rented lockers 52 AM passenger boardings, northbound (NB) 545 The City of Redwood City’s Downtown Precise Plan was adopted in 2007 as a blueprint for redevelopment of the AM passenger boardings, southbound (SB) 235 area. AM passenger boardings with bikes, NB 45 AM passenger boardings with bikes, SB 23 Bicycle access to station Observed bumps (number, time, direction) 5, PM, NB Redwood City ordinance No. 320, § 2 makes it “unlawful to ride or propel any bicycle upon any Bicycle parking Ribbon racks along platform sidewalk of any street within the City.” There are ribbon racks adjacent to the southbound platform, which are full much of the time, in part due Broadway and Marshall Street provide access to the to their convenient and secure location within sight of north end of the Redwood City station, including the

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many passers‐by. There is no bicycle parking on the directly to the Middlefield Road sidewalk to avoid the northbound side of the station. longer ADA route. There is an at‐grade crossing between the platforms near this south ramp entrance There are coat hanger and inverted‐U racks located in within the station. the City plaza adjacent to the southbound platform. These racks were improperly installed too close to the The southbound platform is much wider than the platform fence to be usable. northbound platform. The southern stretch of the platform near Sequoia Station shopping center is Bicycle lockers on elevated concrete pads are located in bordered by a sloped, paved median. Cyclists have the parking lot across Broadway from the station. To been observed riding along the west side of median, reach the lockers from the station requires a circuitous which is the delivery access path to some Sequoia Inverted‐U bicycle racks in plaza walk up Perry Street in order to cross Broadway Station businesses. legally. This area is dimly lit at night. There are no bicycle lockers on the east (northbound) side of the There is a set of stairs and an ADA ramp from the station. Sequoia Station courtyard leading to the southbound platform near the at‐grade platform crossing. Bicycle access to platforms The northbound platform is very narrow and Recommendations constrained. The fence that runs along the northbound platform limits access to the station to three narrow Near-term Caltrain responsibility pedestrian access points: ADA ramps at the north and • Relocate the 52 lockers from the north Broadway south ends, and a small set of stairs at the center of the parking lot and install 26 lockers to the Caltrain platform. The grade differential between the platform surface parking lot adjacent to the southbound and the street level is less than three feet. platform (parking spaces # 311‐ 316). Upgrade 22 of the 26 lockers to electronic day‐use lockers Fence along northbound platform There is no at‐grade crossing within the station at the • Create another opening in the southern end of the north end; passengers must exit the station and cross fence at Winslow/Middlefield Road for stair access the tracks along Broadway. to the southbound platform, near the existing ramp. • Provide way‐finding signage to bicycle parking. The central stairs leading from the northbound platform to the east are somewhat obscured by shelters and newspaper racks. Long-term Caltrain responsibility • Consider installing two bicycle rack spaces on the The south entrance is a dog‐leg ADA ramp with sloped strip between the southbound platform and handrails; able‐bodied passengers have been observed the shopping center. This would require building hopping over the fence at the at‐grade crossing to get up strip to allow level parking.

Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 71 Appendix B

Multi-agency responsibility • Work with the City of Redwood City to install bicycle racks at street level near the Winslow Street entrance to the northbound platform. • Work with the City of Redwood City to install eight keyed and 53 electronic bicycle lockers east of the station, possibly in the northern tip of the southeastern parking lot, between the white storage shed and the tracks, and a rack at the base of the stairs at the end of Winslow Street. Some of these lockers may be relocated and upgraded from the existing lockers in the north Broadway parking lot. • Work with the City of Redwood City to widen the Choke point in plaza access landscaped choke point at the northern end of the southbound platform to facilitate access to plaza.

Fence that separates northbound platform from Winslow Street/ Middlefield Road

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See following pages for illustrations of issues and recommendations

Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 73 Appendix B

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Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 75 Appendix B

Palo Alto Station While the baggage building was undergoing repairs in 2004, the bicycle parking operations were suspended. When they resumed in 2007, the facility was reborn as Key features a self‐service/automated Bikestation4. Since that time, is in downtown Palo Alto, and also all users have been required to become Bikestation serves . members and to pay for using the facility. There are plans to resume retail operations and staffed hours in 2009 once station platform reconstruction is complete. Recent station history A project to improve the Palo Alto station’s platforms Station plans and pedestrian underpasses was underway as this plan went to press. This project makes the existing The 2003 Palo Alto Bicycle Plan calls for a new northernmost pedestrian underpass ADA‐compliant, bicycle/pedestrian undercrossing under the Caltrain improves lighting and replaces existing platforms with tracks at Everett Avenue, which will connect Quarry longer platforms. Construction is expected to be Road (at the north end of the Stanford campus) with complete in 2009. The Transit Center adjoining the the Bryant Street bicycle boulevard and the Caltrain station was renovated in 2005 to accommodate ten bus station. The Plan also calls for upgrading University and shuttle lines. Avenue between El Camino Real and Middlefield Road to a shared arterial roadway, including bike route Between 1999 and 2004, an attended bicycle parking signs. facility was established in the Palo Alto station’s former baggage building. It was staffed by a local bicycle The City of Palo Alto is conducting technical studies of shop, which provided valet bicycle parking at no a Palo Alto Intermodal Transit Center at University charge. Bicycle repairs, rentals and retail sales were Ave, to reconfigure the station (rail tracks and bus also offered at this facility. Operations were initially bays) and University Avenue access. It also includes subsidized by grants through various public agencies. consideration of a bicycle/pedestrian undercrossing of the Caltrain tracks near Alma and Everett. Intensive The City of Palo Alto completed the Homer Avenue land use development is planned adjacent to the Undercrossing in 2005, which provides a station. bicycle/pedestrian connection under the Caltrain tracks between downtown Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (south of the Palo Alto Caltrain station). It also connects to the Embarcadero bike path 4 that runs parallel to the Caltrain tracks. Bikestation is a not‐for‐profit organization that offers secure bicycle parking and related services at the Palo Alto Caltrain station, various BART stations and other west coast locations.

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The Palo Alto Caltrain station is one of the regional hub Alma Street—which has no bicycle lanes or shoulder— stations identified in MTC’s Transit Connectivity Plan. runs along the north edge of the Palo Alto station (“east” of the northbound platform) and east (“south”) Table B-7: Bicycle profile Palo Alto station of the station, traffic speeds and volumes are high, making it daunting for most cyclists. The sidewalk in Total rack spaces 61 this area is designated as a “Sidewalk Bike Path.” Occupied rack spaces 55 Cyclists riding from downtown (north and east of the Total locker spaces 96 station) destined for southbound trains must either ride along the University Avenue undercrossing of the Rented lockers 92 tracks (narrow, with no shoulders or bicycle lanes) or Other bike parking 96 must walk their bikes on one of the three pedestrian Other bike parking occupancy 11 undercrossings. AM passenger boardings, northbound (NB) 656 AM passenger boardings, southbound (SB) 166 The Embarcadero path leads from the southern end of the southbound platform to the Palo Alto Medical AM passenger boardings with bikes, NB 42 Foundation, the Town and Country shopping center, AM passenger boardings with bikes, SB 22 and , and extends north to El Observed bumps (number, time, direction) 8, PM, NB Camino Park, ending on Alma Street between El Camino Real and Palo Alto Avenue. Through the Bicyclist data Caltrain station, the path becomes an on‐street facility on Mitchell and Urban lanes, which takes cyclists The City of Palo Alto has the highest concentration of through a mix of bus/shuttle traffic, without the benefit daily bicycle trips of any city through which Caltrain of way‐finding signage. travels.5 Bicycle parking Bicycle access to station The Palo Alto station has the most bicycle racks of any In Palo Alto, bicyclists are permitted to ride on in the Caltrain system. There are also lockers and a sidewalks, with the exception of the downtown and shared access/self serve Bikestation. where posted otherwise. Palo Alto has several designated “Sidewalk Bike Paths” which include Alma Bikestation Street. Palo Alto’s second generation 96‐spot Bikestation is

operated by Bikestation.org. It is shared access,

currently unstaffed, and only paid/registered users can 5 U.S. Census 2000, Journey‐to‐Work and Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Bay Area Travel Survey use the facility. It has relatively low usage, in part due (2000). to price: it is the most expensive bike parking in the

Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 77 Appendix B

Caltrain system, with costs ranging from $1 per day to also heavily used, due to the high proportion of cyclists $96 per year. (The previous incarnation of the Palo Alto using this station, as well as the racks being convenient Bikestation was staffed and offered complimentary and very visible to passers‐by. There are also many parking.) abandoned bikes congesting the racks.

Bikestation signage next to the door provides incorrect The bicycle racks adjacent to the east parking lot near information regarding available services and an old Alma and Lytton are inappropriately installed in dirt, sign is still posted at the entrance to the previous which makes for an unstable and, at times, muddy bicycle station. The operator’s plans for renting and surface. Abandoned bicycles parked in racks repairing bikes are on hold, pending completion of the contribute to crowded platform platform/ramp construction project. Other fixtures and abandoned bicycles conditions Palo Alto station has the most bicycle rack spaces of all On the southbound platform, there are two “BikeLids,” stations systemwide; the greatest number of bikes which were installed by the previous bicycle station locked to signposts, fences, and other non‐sanctioned operator to provide access to bikes left after hours. fixtures; and the largest number of abandoned bikes. Both BikeLids are currently monopolized by This extremely congested bicycle parking environment individuals. indicates a critical need to remove abandoned bikes from racks and other fixtures to make way for Bicycle lockers legitimate bicycle parkers and to reduce the impression There are 44 double‐decker lockers at the south end of that bicycle parking at this station is not secure. the southbound platform; however after platform reconstruction only 40 lockers will be reinstalled in this Bicycle access to platforms location. Mini‐highs (to facilitate boarding Bombardier trains) There are also 52 lockers that were installed in the are located on both platforms at this station. Alma Street parking lot on a “temporary” basis after the closure of the previous bicycle station. Relatively easy access to the north end of the northbound platform is from Lytton Avenue/Alma There are four electronic day‐use lockers in the Street, through the station’s east parking lot. High/Alma South public parking garage, across the street from the station, that are operated by the City of Access to the southbound platform from the north/west Palo Alto. is via Mitchell Lane and an ADA ramp that leads to the breezeway where the bicycle station is located, near the Bicycle racks north end of the platform. The north end of the Double decker bicycle lockers There are plenty of bicycle racks on both platforms, southbound platform is congested with a mini‐high, including inverted‐Us and lightning‐bolts. They are trees, sign‐ and light‐posts and bicycle racks.

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Trees, signposts, bicycle racks and a wheelchair ramp Multi-agency responsibility create a chokepoint at the south end of the southbound • Work with VTA, the City of Palo Alto, and Stanford platform. Bicyclists accessing the southbound platform University to provide maps, information and way‐ from the southwest conflict with Stanford University finding signage based on MTC regional hub way‐ Marguerite passengers/shuttles. finding signage guidelines. These materials should include directions to the Embarcadero path, the There are three pedestrian undercrossings, all of which adjacent Transit Center, Marguerite shuttles, have ramps. One of these is being reconstructed by downtown Palo Alto, Palo Alto Medical Caltrain to meet ADA standards, but will not be Foundation, Palo Alto High School, and Stanford widened. The other two are along University Avenue, University. under the City of Palo Alto’s purview. They are all • Encourage the City of Palo Alto to improve bicycle relatively narrow, particularly while walking a bicycle. access on Alma Street and University Avenue in the vicinity of the station. Recommendations • Work with the Bikestation operator to post current and correct information. Near-term Caltrain responsibility • Work with the Bikestation operator to market and • Retain 52 lockers in the Alma street parking lot. promote bike parking/usage of the facility. • Upgrade 65 keyed lockers to electronic lockers. • Relocate two bicycle rack spaces to a location available for bumped bicycles on the northbound platform. (There are existing racks close to the north end of the southbound platform.) See following pages for illustrations of issues • Ensure that Palo Alto station is the top priority in and recommendations efforts to remove abandoned bicycles from bike racks, and do so frequently. • Provide maps and information on each platform regarding bike parking at the station. • Use station construction project as an opportunity to consider location of signposts and light standards in the context of mini‐highs and bicycle racks on north end of southbound platform.

Caltrain Bicycle Parking and Access Plan | 79 Appendix B

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