Palo Alto, California Development News

Palo Alto City Council Adopts 2026 Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan, Addresses Calav Bike Access Concerns

The Palo Alto City Council considered and adopted the 2026 Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan (BPTP). The plan aims to establish a comfortable, connected, and safe active transportation network over the next 10 years. Key aspects of the final plan include focusing on neighborhood bicycle boulevards, a 10-year implementation framework prioritizing 19 miles of core near-term enhancements, elevated pedestrian environments with distinct pedestrian districts, and strategies for managing ebikes and ecycles. Council also discussed specific directions regarding California Avenue (Calav), including a referral to staff to examine bike access, potential time of day restrictions, and support for PAUSD's ebike restrictions for students. Several amendments were proposed and adopted, focusing on evaluating two-way bike track extensions, safety improvements at the Newell and Embaradero intersection, bicycle access to the San Antonio Station, incorporating payback recommendations, and addressing safety at intersections with bike routes. The council also decided against adopting an urgency ordinance that would have reduced SB79 standards by 50%, opting instead to direct staff to bring back a proposal for zoning revisions within 6 to 12 months.