About the Quarry Road Connection Project

Measure D will be on the ballot in Palo Alto this November. If approved by voters, it will allow the extension of Palo Alto’s Quarry Road to create a direct connection between the Palo Alto Transit Center (PATC) and El Camino Real for use by public buses and shuttles (the Quarry Road Connection Project).  Voting Yes on D would enable transformation of a currently congested PATC by enhancing public transit efficiency, reducing traffic congestion, and improving safety and convenience for cyclists and pedestrians. 

To facilitate these improvements, Measure D asks voters to approve the un-dedication of an underutilized 0.33-acre portion of El Camino Park. The Palo Alto City Council voted unanimously to place Measure D on the ballot, and it has received widespread backing from transit agencies and other community organizations and leaders. Furthermore, the Quarry Road Connection Project is already almost entirely funded and will deliver significant community benefits without any cost to Palo Alto taxpayers.

Stake map showing the proposed outline of the Quarry Connection Project

KEY BENEFITS

THE NEED

Goal of the Quarry Road Connection Project
Improve circulation for public transit vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians at the Palo Alto Transit Center (PATC), including direct access to El Camino Real and Quarry Road.

Project Details
The Quarry Road Connection Project would enable public buses that use the VTA bus terminal to exit via Quarry Road directly onto El Camino Real rather than circling back along University Avenue – the current route. Bus operators note that they could save 5-8 minutes journey time with this new connection on routes continuing on El Camino Real.

The project would also improve bike and pedestrian access by allowing crossings between the PATC and Quarry Road on both the north and south sides of the intersection.

Busy transit center with confusing and congested circulation

• 600 buses serve the PATC daily
• There are ten public bus bays at the PATC

University Circle is congested by the turning radii of buses

• Articulated buses have difficulty making the sharp turn
• Conflicts with bikes and pedestrians navigating the area
• Creates additional congestion for travel to Downtown

Safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians is challenging

• 750-800 cyclists access the station daily

IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSIT EFFICIENCY & REDUCED TRAFFIC CONGESTION

• Reduces congestion, bus traffic and turnarounds, which also lowers emissions and noise from vehicular traffic.
• Improves the functionality of the PATC for public transportation.
• Reduces bus run time by 5-8 minutes.
• 59% of the 600 daily inbound/outbound bus trips through the PATC would avoid using University Circle with a new Quarry Road Connection.
• Improves throughput on University Avenue.

ENHANCED SAFETY FOR CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS

• Creation of a safer, more convenient intersection at Quarry Road and El Camino Real will benefit cyclists and pedestrians.
• Enhances connection to the Class 1 bike and pedestrian path running through the El Camino Park.
• Connects to the regional bicycle and pedestrian networks by upgrading the crossings at El Camino Real.
• Improves accessibility by creating a visual and physical multimodel connection. 
• Increases safety by activating an underutilized area of El Camino Park through functional design.

PARTNER AGENCIES