Rengstorff Avenue Grade Separation Project

The Rengstorff Avenue Grade Separation Project spans a t-shaped area formed by Rengstorff Avenue and the Caltrain corridor. Along the Caltrain corridor and the adjacent Central expressway, the Project extends from a point north of Escuela Avenue to a point approximately adjacent to Ortega Avenue, and along Rengstorff Avenue the Project extends approximately 650 feet to the north and approximately 600 feet to the south of the rail corridor. Rengstorff Avenue is a critical north-south route between U.S. Highway 101 and El Camino Real that also serves as a gateway to the technology companies located near the bay to the north of the railroad tracks. The purpose of and need for the Project is to: (1) improve public safety by eliminating the existing at-grade railroad crossing at Rengstorff Avenue; and (2) improve traffic circulation and emergency response time, and to reduce queuing caused by the frequent rail traffic. The Project will involve lowering Rengstorff Avenue and its intersection with Central Expressway (County Route G6), which runs parallel to and north of the Caltrain tracks. The low point of Rengstorff Avenue under the railroad tracks will be approximately 22 feet below existing ground level. The Project will reconstruct and slightly realign the two existing Caltrain tracks by approximately five feet to the south, but the two tracks will remain at their current elevation. A 120-foot-long rail bridge will be constructed to carry the tracks over the lowered Rengstorff Avenue. The existing Leland Avenue and Crisanto Avenue intersections with Rengstorff Avenue, on the south side of the Caltrain train tracks, will be closed due to the proposed lowering of Rengstorff Avenue. A connector roadway will be constructed to maintain access between Rengstorff Avenue and Leland Avenue immediately south of its current location. The Leland Avenue connector roadway will be located along west side of Rengstorff Avenue and connect with Rengstorff Avenue approximately 270 feet south of the existing intersection. A new parking lot will be provided along the Leland Avenue connector roadway to provide 1:1 replacement of existing parking at the La Plaza Market parking lot that is impacted by the project. Crisanto Avenue will be terminated with a cul-de-sac east of Rengstorff Avenue. A new pedestrian overcrossing will be constructed across the lowered Rengstorff Avenue at Crisanto Avenue to maintain east/west pedestrian/bicycle access between Crisanto Avenue and Leland Avenue that would otherwise cross the existing intersection. Stairs and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramps will connect the pedestrian overcrossing with Rengstorff Avenue. Rengstorff Avenue will include cycle tracks and a landscaped buffer between the roadway and flanking sidewalks. Designated bike lanes would be added to Central Expressway approaching the Rengstorff Avenue intersection. The Project will include several retaining walls and landscaped terraces to provide support for excavation along the lowered portion of roadways.