A project by Laura Melahn, Candidate for Menlo Park District 4 City Council·Get Updates →
Transportation/Traffic
Funded FY27–31

Middle Avenue Caltrain Crossing

Project CPT005 · Public Works

Also identified in the budget as “Middle Ave Caltrain Cross Stud” (project code CPT005).

Cost & funding
Five-year planned cost
$830,000
Where the money comes from
  • Special Revenue Funds$830,000
Specifically
  • Transportation Impact Fees$830,000

    Fees paid by new development to offset its traffic impact. Can only fund transportation projects in the City's nexus study.

Source: FY 2026–27 CIP, Fund 351 appropriation.

Funding pathway
External grant pursuitIn pursuit

Middle Plaza/Stanford developer contribution ($5M) committed. Remaining gap depends on federal grade-separation funding (FRA CRISI), state TIRCP, regional MTC/SamTrans participation, and the County Transportation Authority. Several years of grant cycles. Voter-approved local funding may also be required.

→ See grants & funding
Category
Capital Improvement Plan
Department
Public Works
Planned revenue, FY 2027–31
$2,130,000
Spent FY 2023–25
$4,648,797
Estimated lifetime cost
$60,500,000
›Budget labels for this project

Sources: City of Menlo Park OpenGov CIP detail, project code CPT005; resident-facing name shown here is “Middle Avenue Caltrain Crossing”. The OpenGov summary label is “Middle Ave Caltrain Cross Stud”. Budget worksheet labeled “Middle Avenue Caltrain Study”. Budget proposal labeled “Middle Avenue Caltrain Crossing Study Design and Construction”.

$37.4M
Funding gap
Estimated lifetime cost $60,500,000
Estimated lifetime cost
$60,500,000
Secured (awarded, received, allocated)
$12,788,334
Committed, not yet executed
$10,340,000
Pending application
Amount not yet determined
Anticipated (not yet applied for)
$0
Funding gap (not yet covered)
$37,371,666
›Show source

The lifetime cost estimate is $60,500,000, from Planning Commission Staff Report #26-024-PC, June 8, 2026 (June 8, 2026). Source: https://www.menlopark.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/community-development/documents/planning-commission/2026-06-08-staff-report.pdf. The funding gap is the estimated lifetime cost minus all funding that has not been lost, added up from the funding sources listed below. Year-by-year figures come from the City's adopted five-year capital plan.

Who is paying

Funding sources

Each source carries its own status and citation. Expand a row to see the conditions, dates, and source document. “Ongoing” sources are recurring formula funds; sources still being pursued show no dollar amount.

›Middle Plaza development agreement contributionCommitted
$6,340,000
Stanford University (private) · construction

Conditions: Tied to Middle Plaza development entitlement

Section 5 of the Middle Plaza DA caps Stanford's contribution at $5,000,000 nominal, adjusted annually by the Engineering News Record Construction Cost Index for the San Francisco Bay Area on June 30 of each year. As of the June 8, 2026 Planning Commission staff report (Staff Report #26-024-PC), the adjusted maximum is approximately $6.34 million. Payment is conditional on all four Substantial Crossing Progress conditions of Section 1.24 being met: (1) Council-approved final design, (2) CEQA compliance, (3) 15% construction funding secured excluding Stanford, and (4) all approvals/permits/property rights from other public agencies and private landowners. Conditions (2) and (4, property rights) are complete; condition (3) appears met per staff report; condition (1) is the remaining gating item. Per the staff report, the second Education Foundation Payment under Section 6 (up to $1M) will not be paid because Stanford's contribution will be the full adjusted maximum, with no savings to fund the second payment.

Source document
›Transportation Impact FeesAllocated
$5,658,334
City of Menlo Park (city) · design and construction

From city Transportation Impact Fee fund (Fund 351). City discretionary.

Source document
›One Bay Area Grant – Third Cycle (OBAG-3)Awarded
$5,000,000
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (regional) · construction

Conditions: OBAG-3 cycle programming

Awarded by MTC in January 2023.

Awarded January 1, 2023
Source document
›Federal omnibus budget bill member-designated projectCommitted
$4,000,000
USDOT (via Rep. Eshoo earmark) (federal) · construction

Conditions: Requires NEPA clearance; subject to federal grant administration

Nominated by Rep. Eshoo, included in December 2022 federal omnibus.

Awarded December 1, 2022
Source document
›Measure A/W Pedestrian/Bicycle ProgramAwarded
$1,130,000
SMC Transportation Authority (county) · design

Programmed by SMCTA on Jul 20, 2016 from the Measure A Grade Pedestrian/Bicycle Program.

Awarded July 20, 2016
Source: Staff Report #26-103-CC (June 9, 2026), Attachment D — Grant funding summary as of May 2026
›Stanford recreational mitigation grantAwarded
$1,000,000
Santa Clara County (county) · construction

Santa Clara County recreational mitigation funds tied to Stanford GUP.

Source: Staff Report #26-103-CC (June 9, 2026), Attachment D — Grant funding summary as of May 2026
›Safe Streets and Roads for All grant (SS4A)Pending
—
US DOT (FHWA) (federal) · construction

Conditions: Range $2.5M-$25M; specific award amount to be determined. Caltrain as co-applicant.

Joint application by Menlo Park and Caltrain submitted in May 2026. Application competitiveness was the explicit rationale for the April 28, 2026 $1M MOU amendment bringing Caltrain in as a partner.

Source document
Spending

Spending by year

Past years are recorded actuals from the City's general ledger. FY 2026 is the adopted current-year budget. FY 2027 through FY 2031 is what the five-year Capital Improvement Plan proposes to spend.

FY 23$120,089
FY 24$3,941,099
FY 25$587,610
FY 27$830,000
Spent Current year (adopted) Planned
›Where the money went, line by line
YearFundCategoryAmount
FY 23Special Revenue FundsServices$118,831
FY 23Special Revenue FundsSalaries and Wages$901
FY 23Special Revenue FundsFringe Benefits$358
FY 24Special Revenue FundsFixed Assets & Capital Outlay$3,805,150
FY 24Special Revenue FundsServices$131,564
FY 24Special Revenue FundsSalaries and Wages$2,963
FY 24Special Revenue FundsFringe Benefits$1,294
FY 24Special Revenue FundsOperating Expenses$128
FY 25Special Revenue FundsServices$587,610
›Show source

Past years are summed from gl_transactions for this project. FY 2026 is the adopted current-year budget for the project. FY 2027 through FY 2031 is what the City's adopted five-year CIP proposes to spend, taken from cip_projects.

How decisions were made

Council actions

  1. authorize

    Council authorized $2M MOU with Caltrain (JPB) for Middle Ave advanced preliminary design and environmental clearance

    ›Details

    Authorized the City Manager to execute the MOU with Caltrain (PCJPB) for $2,000,000 to develop engineering design and environmental clearance documents. Scope: advanced preliminary design, NEPA clearance (CEQA already done in 2020), CMGC RFP issuance, independent cost estimating. MOU term through December 31, 2026.

    Staff recommendation: Authorize the city manager to execute the MOU with Caltrain for $2,000,000

    Vote: consent
    Staff report 24-074-CC
  2. approve

    Council approved updated Middle Ave Caltrain Crossing design based on Caltrain comments

    ›Details

    Approved a redesign shifting the tunnel south, lowering it about 3 feet to facilitate construction without interrupting railroad operations, and extending the tunnel length to place the ramps out of Caltrain's right-of-way. Council also requested Caltrain consider an "uncovered" segment of the tunnel in the part of Caltrain's right-of-way not currently needed for active train service.

  3. approve

    Council approved modification to PD permit for 700-800 El Camino Real to facilitate Middle Ave ramp acquisition

    ›Details

    Approved a modification to the planned development permit for 700-800 El Camino Real to facilitate the purchase of a portion of that property for the ramps for the crossing, as recommended by the Planning Commission on May 1, 2023.

  4. authorize

    Council authorized service agreement with Caltrain (JPB) for Middle Ave project development activities

    ›Details

    Authorized City Manager to sign a service agreement with Caltrain to conduct project development activities, including reviewing the proposed design, developing one or more RFPs for design, developing an MOU to conduct final design, and selecting a preferred contracting method.

  5. adopt

    Resolution 6690 authorizing PSA with Menlo Station Development for portion of 700-800 El Camino Real

    ›Details

    Council adopted Resolution No. 6690 authorizing the City Manager to execute a purchase and sale agreement with Menlo Station Development, LLC, for a portion of 700-800 El Camino Real (APN 071-333-200) to support implementation of the Middle Avenue pedestrian and bicycle rail crossing. $100K deposit paid May 5, 2022; purchase scheduled to close May 6, 2024.

    Staff report Resolution No. 6690
  6. approve

    Council certified Middle Ave project environmental document and approved 30% project plans

    ›Details

    Council certified the addendum to the El Camino Real and Downtown specific plan EIR and approved the 30% project plans. This was the CEQA clearance step; NEPA clearance was still pending as of the May 2024 MOU.

  7. approve

    City Council selected preferred alternative for Middle Ave Caltrain Crossing

    ›Details

    Council unanimously passed a motion to select an undercrossing approximately 10-12 feet below the street/plaza elevation that generally aligns with a proposed raised crosswalk on Alma Street and is slightly offset from the plaza at 500 El Camino Real (Stanford's Middle Plaza development).

    Vote: unanimous
  8. authorize

    SMCTA programmed $490K from Measure A Grade Pedestrian/Bicycle Program for Middle Ave preliminary engineering

    ›Details

    SMCTA (San Mateo County Transportation Authority) action — not Menlo Park Council. Initial $490K seed funding for preliminary engineering and environmental clearance phases of the Middle Ave Caltrain Crossing project.

Plan history

How this project changed between plans

The City publishes a new five-year capital plan each year. Here is how this project's five-year total moved from the FY 2025-30 Adopted plan to the FY 2026-31 Proposed plan.

FY 2025-30 Adopted
$17,307,439
FY 2026-31 Proposed
$830,000
Change
↓ $16,477,439

“Five-year total” is every expense line for this project in each plan (carryover estimate plus new money). The two plans cover different five-year windows, so part of a change can be the window shifting by a year.

Flagged for clarification
high

Carryover estimate dropped from $7,307,439 to $0 between plans. New money proposed in the 5-year window dropped from $10,000,000 to $830,000. Total 5-year envelope decreased from $17,307,439 to $830,000.

Possible explanations

  • The carryover may have been spent on project work during FY 2025-26 (project actuals available in the published budget would help confirm or rule this out).
  • Council may have de-appropriated the prior balance through a specific action that has not yet been located in published council action records.
  • The prior carryover estimate may have been re-estimated downward without a corresponding council action.
  • Funding may have been re-routed to or from related projects in the same corridor.

These are possibilities to check, not findings. The published data shows the change; it does not state the reason.

Question for staff

What accounts for the change in carryover estimate and 5-year envelope for Middle Avenue Caltrain Crossing, given that the project carries a contractual deadline of November 9, 2027 under Section 5 of the Stanford Development Agreement?

›Show source

Each figure is the sum of this project's expense lines in that plan snapshot (view v_cip_plan_comparison, from cip_plan_lines). Flagged questions come from cip_plan_clarifications.

FY 2025-30 Adopted 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan
FY 2026-31 Proposed 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan
Not yet in the budget

Pending Council actions

4 items for this project have been flagged but are not in the current budget. These are commitments the City knows it will need to address — tracked here so they're visible alongside what's being voted on now.

high

Middle Ave Caltrain Crossing — remaining design funding gap

Amount:
$4.4M
Deadline:
November 9, 2027 (about 16 months away)
Expected action:
Staff said at the April 28, 2026 meeting that they would return the following month with a CIP plan reallocating Transportation Impact Fee resources for the next phase of design. The FY 2026-31 Proposed CIP published May 22, 2026 does not appear to include that reallocation.
Status:
pending
›Consequence of inaction

Without the remaining design funding, design cannot proceed past the current 65% level. The Middle Plaza Development Agreement (DA-2017-102644, Section 1.24) requires Substantial Crossing Progress — defined as Council-approved final design, completed CEQA compliance (already complete), 15% of construction funding secured (appears already met at 24.6% of highest estimated total cost per the June 8, 2026 Planning Commission staff report), and all approvals/permits/property rights from other agencies (property rights complete, NEPA expected September 2026) — by November 9, 2027 to extend the DA term to November 9, 2032 and preserve Stanford's approximately $6.34M Crossing Payment contribution (ENR-CCI adjusted from the $5M nominal cap). Design completion to 100% Council-approved status is the gating remaining condition. The City has stated commitment to advancing the project to extend the term.

Source: Staff Report #26-010-CC (January 27, 2026); Middle Plaza Development Agreement, recorded San Mateo County Document #2017-102644

high

CIP plan with Transportation Impact Fee reallocation for Middle Avenue design

Amount:
$4.4M
Deadline:
November 9, 2027 (about 16 months away)
Expected action:
Promised at April 28, 2026 Council meeting; not yet brought forward as of June 7, 2026.
Status:
pending
›Consequence of inaction

Without the promised CIP plan or an alternative funding source, design cannot advance past 65%, which means Substantial Crossing Progress cannot be demonstrated by November 9, 2027, which means the Middle Plaza Development Agreement term does not extend to 2032.

Source: April 28, 2026 Council meeting transcript (Item H3); FY 2026-31 Proposed 5-Year CIP published May 22, 2026

high

Middle Ave Caltrain Crossing — construction phase funding gap

Amount:
$34M – $43M
Expected action:
Multi-year grant pursuit; no single Council action scheduled
Status:
in negotiation
›Consequence of inaction

Federal omnibus and OBAG-3 grants have expiration windows; if not extended or fully drawn, those funds may be lost as the project timeline extends. Stanford recreational mitigation funds and Stanford Crossing Payment are tied to DA timelines (see related commitment for design MOU amendment).

Source: Staff Report #26-010-CC (January 27, 2026), Table 3 and Project funding shortfall section

medium

Non-reimbursable indirect cost exposure on major grant-funded capital projects

Amount:
Amount not yet quantified
Expected action:
Monitoring item; specific Council action depends on individual grant cycle outcomes.
Status:
pending
›Consequence of inaction

Without quantification, residents and commissioners cannot see what share of grant-funded project budgets will fall back on the General Fund through indirect cost mechanics. The City absorbs the difference but it is not surfaced as a category in the published budget.

Source: Staff Report #26-103-CC (June 9, 2026), "Additional budget amendments" Item 3; BHCDC Fund 253 reimbursement methodology