Project Overview

Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council and the City of Palo Alto are collaborating to complete an evacuation route clearance project on Arastradero Road and Page Mill Road, located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Highway 280. This annual project enhances fire resistance along the evacuation route by reducing vegetation in the corridor and supports safer travel in emergencies.

 

The Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council works with the City of Palo Alto to coordinate fire fuel reduction projects across jurisdictions between partner agencies. This work is in alignment with the Foothills Fire Management Plan, which is overseen, coordinated, and funded by the Palo Alto Fire, Public Works, Utilities, and Community Services departments.

When

The SCCFSC is planning to complete the project from August 5, 2024, through August 30, 2024

  • The Arastradero Road segment is tentatively scheduled to begin August 5, 2024, and continue through August 9, 2024
  • The Page Mill Road segment is tentatively scheduled to begin August 12, 2024, and continue through August 23, 2024
  • The remainder of the month serves as a buffer period in our schedule to address any unexpected delays in project work. This includes disruptions caused by extreme weather, red flag days, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Work will take place on weekdays from Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Expect travel delays as work crews will conduct traffic control for single lane closures. Public Works staff and Palo Alto Park Rangers will assist crews on site to complete this work.

 

Where

Arastradero Road

This evacuation route project will be executed in one phase. It will start at the entrance of the Arastradero Preserve on Arastradero Road and continue for approximately 1.8 miles, ending at the border of Palo Alto and Portola Valley. The aforementioned project area information is illustrated on the project maps that follow.

 

Page Mill Road

This part of the project will start on Page Mill Road at the boundary of Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills and continue for approximately 5 miles, ending past the Montebello Open Space Preserve parking lot. The aforementioned project area information is illustrated on the project maps that follow.