Subsurface Utility Exploration for the Palo Alto Grade Separation Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026100182
Public Agency
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board
Document Title
Subsurface Utility Exploration for the Palo Alto Grade Separation Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/7/2026
Document Description
[PROJECT TITLE CONTINUED]: (Churchill Avenue, Seale Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road Crossings)
The proposed project consists of temporary subsurface utility investigation activities to support ongoing design and engineering of the City of Palo Alto Grade Separation Project (Grade Separation Project). Work would occur at 13 locations within the existing developed transportation corridors associated with Churchill Avenue, Seale Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road crossings. Activities would include utility designations services and air-vacuum potholing – activities to verify the location, depth, size and material of existing underground utilities. The utility investigations will be conducted in accordance with applicable encroachment permit, traffic-control, and notification requirements. Potholes would be restored following the completion of investigation activities. The purpose of this project is to collect information needed to support utility coordination, engineering design, and utility relocation activities associated with the proposed grade separation improvements. Beneficiaries include Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), the City of Palo Alto, utility owners, and the public.
Contact Information
Name
Michael Tauchen
Agency Name
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board
Job Title
Deputy Director - Environmental Compliance
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Palo Alto
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Cross Streets
Caltrain right of way at Churchill Avenue, Seale Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15306
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project consists of temporary subsurface utility exploration activities, including utility designation services and utility potholing, to support future design of the Palo Alto Grade Separation Project. Utility investigations would occur at the Churchill Avenue, Seale Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road crossings to identify the location, depth, size, and material of existing underground utilities. Utility potholing is anticipated to begin as early as November 2026 and is expected to require approximately three days of field work within an overall work window of approximately five to ten days. The utility investigations would generate temporary diesel exhaust emissions, minor dust, and equipment noise associated with air-vacuum excavation and supporting vehicles. Because the work would be localized and limited in duration, these temporary effects would not result in a significant environmental impact.
Following completion of field investigations, pothole locations would be backfilled and
restored to pre-project conditions.
The project would not result in the construction of permanent facilities, removal of vegetation, or changes to existing land uses. Additionally, the utility investigations would be conducted in accordance with applicable encroachment permit, traffic-control, and notification requirements Information collected through these investigations would be used to support engineering design, utility coordination, and future project development.
The project meets the criteria for a Class 6 exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 and does not trigger any exceptions listed in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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