Caltrain has finished in-stream construction on its San Francisquito Creek Bank Stabilization Project between Menlo Park and Palo Alto, three weeks ahead of schedule, the rail agency said. Crews finished the creek work Sept. 23, ahead of an Oct. 15 deadline set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Why it matters for riders

The work protects the San Francisquito Creek Railroad Bridge, which Caltrain owns, and the Alma Street pedestrian and bicycle bridge from erosion. Severe winter storms in 2023 badly eroded the creek banks and threatened the ground holding up both bridges. Caltrain put in emergency temporary fixes in November 2023 with the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority.

"As El Niño approaches, we're making sure our infrastructure is ready to weather the storm," Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard said. Patch noted the project also helps protect the historic El Palo Alto redwood.

What was built

  • Vegetated boulder revetment along the banks
  • Vegetated soil-wrapped lifts
  • A new Menlo Park storm drain outfall with a backflow prevention device
  • Removal of invasive plants and new native plantings

Cost and what's left

The project budget was $14 million. Palo Alto contributed $1.06 million and Menlo Park $1.16 million. Landscaping and irrigation are still underway and should be done by the end of November, Caltrain said.

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