The Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved staff recommendations to pursue four‑quadrant gate systems at the Churchill, Meadow and Charleston Caltrain crossings as the primary measure to establish a quiet zone along the corridor. The action, taken Nov. 10, directs transportation staff to pursue funding, coordinate design and permitting with Caltrain and state/federal regulators, and bring back implementation details and schedule options to council.

Senior transportation engineer Rippan Bhatia summarized alternatives studied by staff and consultants, including wayside horns and four‑quadrant gates. Bhatia said the quad‑gate option "seals a barrier for vehicular crossing across the railroad tracks" and helps meet federal quiet‑zone safety requirements when implemented with supporting measures. The staff presentation noted quad‑gate costs and timeframes vary depending on whether Caltrain or the city leads design and construction and on available funding.

Residents and experts urged the council to adopt quad gates rather than wayside horns. John Melenchuk said the nightly horn blasts had recently started running until about 1 a.m., disrupting sleep for nearby families. Several speakers, including the Caltrain Citizens Advisory Committee chair, warned that wayside horns can malfunction and sometimes concentrate noise near crossings. Neighbor testimony emphasized health and quality‑of‑life impacts and urged speed in implementation.

Council members, including rail committee chair Council member Burt, discussed cost/time tradeoffs and whether earlier interim measures could rapidly reduce noise; they also noted an enhanced crossing safety strategy that includes delineators, lighting and anti‑intrusion mats. Council asked staff to pursue funding strategies that could shorten the projected implementation timeline; staff said an expedited schedule of roughly 36 months may be feasible if funding and agreements are in place, though federal and CPUC reviews remain on the critical path.

The motion directs the Office of Transportation to begin detailed design coordination, identify funding sources, and return with a plan for procurement and timeline. The vote was 5–0.