Mountain View - Castro Street

Location

• Mountain View, CA
• Start: El Camino Real
• Finish: Central Expressway

Background

The purpose of the new design was to help revitalize downtown Mountain View by making the downtown area more pedestrian friendly. In order to achieve this there would need to be a reduction in the amount of through traffic on Castro Street. The merchants and area residents complained that the prior design did not enhance redevelopment of the downtown area. Construction of the design was completed in 1989.

Notable Features

Sidewalks and Streetlights

The sidewalks were widened, landscaping was added, post-top street lights replaced standard street lights. Uplights were installed at the base of all trees to provide a different appearance at night. This greatly enhanced the aesthetics of the area, resulting in the area becoming a local attraction.

Roadway and Medians

The roadway was reconfigured from 2 lanes in each direction to 1 lane in each direction with left-turn lanes. Medians were constructed at several locations along the street with built-in pedestrian walkways and landscaping. The safety of pedestrians has greatly improved since the crossing distance and time was reduced, and the landscaping has enhanced the appearance of the street.

Street Parking

Angled parking spaces and parallel parking spaces alternately line both sides of the street. Some of the on-street parking is in "flexible" zones. These zones can be used for parking or for outside dining. Several restaurants make use of this outside dining option, which has increased the attraction of the area. This feature narrows the effective width of the street, lowering the average speed of vehicles.

Street Maintenance

The overall maintenance has increased significantly. More streetlights and landscaping were added as well as more street furniture (benches, walls, kiosks, etc.) that require attention.

Traffic Volumes for Castro Street

Public Response

The redevelopment of Castro Street greatly increased pedestrian activity which benefited the merchants of the area as well as increased the variety of shops and restaurants along the street. Merchants, businesses, and residents had positive responses to the additions.

Transportation Philosophy of the Town

The City Council encourages and supports pedestrian and bicycle activities. However, it does not want to sacrifice the safe and efficient movement of vehicles for pedestrian and/or bicycle facilities.

Additional Information

The average speed of traffic along this section of Castro Street has been reduced by about 5 miles per hour due to this design.

Original Contact

Mr. Dennis Belluimini
City Traffic Engineer
City of Mountain View
500 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA 94039-7540
(650)903-6311
Fax (650)903-6499

Median divider, midblock crosswalk, and landscaping in downtown Mountain View.

Widened sidewalks and flexible parking zones often used as dining areas.

Flexible parking zones and widened sidewalks lined with uplighted trees and new streetlamps.

Median divider and crosswalk at intersection.

This information originally compiled by Angela Obeso, 1999, as part of a senior project.