El Camino Context Sensitive Design ( Palo Alto, California)

The El Camino Real Context Sensitive Design study was a demonstration project related to new Caltrans directives regarding roadway design and planning. Context Sensitive Design (CSD) seeks to achieve a balance between traffic operations, safety, the community, and environment. Through a grant funded by Caltrans, this project implemented the State’s (CSD) approach to create roadways that are compatible to the needs and desires of the surrounding community

El Camino Real is a major traffic artery carrying over 50,000 vehicles a day. It bisects the City of Palo Alto. One of the major requirements of the planning process was to ensure that roadway design changes, such as lane reductions and modifications, did not negatively impact the operations of the roadway nor divert traffic to streets through surrounding neighborhoods. The main analytical tool was a CORSIM model, used to determine change in roadway operations on a corridor-wide basis. Rather than analyze and report individual intersections, the study concentrated on total corridor travel time as a major measure of effectiveness (MOE). The use of travel time as an MOE enabled the policy makers and public to relate future changes to their own experience. It also allowed speed management techniques to be incorporated in the plan, with travel times preserved through improved traffic signal efficiency. The analysis concluded that lane reductions and other improvements would result in a minimal increase (10 percent) in overall corridor-wide travel time versus existing conditions. The results of the study are awaiting implementation pending the receipt of adequate funding.