BKF Engineers is contributing to the design and implementation of critical safety improvements at the Churchill Avenue & Alma Street railroad crossing in Palo Alto. Located just east of a busy double-track Caltrain line, this intersection sees a high volume of pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles—particularly during school commute hours. BKF’s scope of work includes widening sidewalks and curb ramps, connecting to a dedicated bicycle path, relocating and installing new traffic signal poles, and coordinating necessary utility relocations to enhance multimodal safety and accessibility.

Funded through the federally administered Section 130 Railway-Highway Crossings Program, the project focuses on eliminating immediate hazards at this at-grade crossing. BKF is working closely with city and rail stakeholders to deliver safety-driven design solutions within a constrained urban environment. Additional enhancements—such as new pedestrian gates, a longer gate arm, emergency access gates, warning tactiles, and solar LED markers—will be integrated into the Churchill Avenue & Alma Street railroad crossing project through coordination with the team partners, resulting in a significantly safer and more visible crossing for all users.