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City of Palo Alo Infrastructure Plan icon

Invest. Improve. Innovate. 

About

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Infrastructure Plan

Five years ago, the City Council approved an Infrastructure Plan that initially included nine projects including a new public safety building, two parking garages, two fire stations and a bike and pedestrian plan, among other projects.  Since then, the mix of projects has shifted slightly with the Council pressing the “pause” button on the downtown parking garage and a necessary redesign of future bike boulevards.  

The cost of the plan has also significantly gone up with escalating construction costs and changes to the scope of projects.  In addition, salaries and benefits of staff working on projects are now budgeted within individual capital projects to more accurately account for the total cost of each project. The current planned cost of the Infrastructure Plan is now $255 million.

PROJECT

COSTS

In June 2014, Palo Alto City Council adopted the Infrastructure Plan that prioritized unfunded projects and identified potential sources of revenue. Included in the plan are nine key projects with the majority of funding coming from an increase in the Transient Occupancy Tax (hotel tax) from 12 to 14 percent that was approved by more than 76 percent of Palo Alto voters in November 2014.  Additional funding sources for these infrastructure projects come from the City’s Capital Fund, the Stanford Hospital development agreement, parking in-lieu fees, parks development impact fees, and state grants.

Projects

The City is in the process of designing and building the nine infrastructure projects identified by Council. A couple are complete, a few are near completion, and more are on their way. Read up on each project to learn more about the status and background of the project.

Public Safety Building

Public Safety Building

Building to meet the public safety needs of the community.

Design Start

Jan. 2017

Design End

Sept. 2020

Construction Start

Construction End

Mar. 2021

Fall 2023

Charleston/Arastradero Corridor

Charleston/Arastradero Corridor

Providing safe and reliable access to the corridor.

Design Start

Jan. 2017

Design End

June 2019

Construction Start

Construction End

June 2018

Fall 2022

Fire Station No. 4

Fire Station No. 4

Meeting the needs of tomorrow with a new seismically sound fire station.

Design Start

June 2023

Design End

Feb. 2024

Construction Start

Construction End

Apr. 2024

Fall 2025

Byxbee Park

Byxbee Park

Repurposing landfill and providing open space and hiking trails.

Design Start

Sept. 2023

Design End

Aug. 2024

Construction Start

Construction End

Sept. 2024

Aug. 2025

Highway 101 Bike Bridge

Highway 101 Bike Bridge

Connecting Palo Alto to the baylands year round.

Design Start

Jan. 2017

Design End

Dec. 2019

Construction Start

Construction End

Jan. 2020

Nov. 2021

California Avenue Garage

California Avenue Garage

Mitigating parking challenges in the Cal. Ave. area.

Design Start

Jan. 2017

Design End

Dec. 2018

Construction Start

Construction End

Jan. 2019

Dec. 2020

Bike/Pedestrian Plan

Bike/Pedestrian Plan

Expanding bike and walking infrastructure.

Design Start

Jan. 2017

Design End

Jul. 2017

Construction Start

Construction End

Aug. 2017

Project Complete

Fire Station No. 3

Fire Station No. 3

Replacing the aging and unsound Fire Station No. 3.

Design Start

Jan. 2016

Design End

Aug. 2017

Construction Start

Construction End

Jan. 2018

Mar. 2020

Downtown Parking Garage

Downtown Parking Garage

Addressing parking and traffic congestion in the Downtown Area.

Design Start

Jan. 2017

Design End

On hold.

Construction Start

Construction End

On hold.

On hold.

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Making Progress

Over the past year or so, there has been a lot of progress on the Infrastructure Plan including:   
  • Construction of Fire Station No. 3 was completed in March 2020. 

  • Construction of the 627 space California Avenue parking garage is underway. Council has approved the design for the new Public Safety Building, and construction will begin in early 2021. 

  • The Charleston/Arastradero Corridor project will see three milestones this fall with scheduled completion of phases 1 and 2 and bid opening for phase 3.

  • The Highway 101 Pedestrian/Bike Bridge construction begins in January 2020 and is anticipated to be completed in summer 2021.

  • Council has pushed “pause” on the downtown parking garage for now and staff plans to bring forward a potential parking guidance system as part of the 2020 budget process as a near term solution. 

  • In late 2018, the Council approved the design of the new Public Safety Building that will start construction following the completion of the California Avenue parking structure.

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RECEIVE UPDATES IN YOUR INBOX

Project updates will be sent out periodically, and only for the projects you are interested in.

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