Editors’ Note: Resources for any person who is feeling depressed, troubled or suicidal are listed at the bottom of this article.
Palo Alto City Council members are considering whether to temporarily close the Churchill rail crossing to address student safety after hearing from residents during a listening session held last week in the school district’s Board of Education room.
The session was in response to concerns about access to the railway tracks and third suicide cluster in two decades, following the death of a student one month ago. City manager Ed Shikada said that closing the crossing would take time, even if the council agreed to do it.
“We have a 60-day window [ending on April 13] to put together information that could lead to an informed discussion by the City Council and perhaps action by April,” Shikada said. “If approved by the city council, staff anticipate that it would take some time to actually implement a closure, likely at least two to three months.”
Palo Alto High School junior Julia Curtis, who created a petition for crossing guards at Churchill that garnered over 3,000 signatures, said that the Churchill rail crossing should be closed.
“When this pattern continues for almost two decades, we have to take a step back and realize we are doing something wrong,” Curtis said. “Imagine if the crossing had never been there in the first place. Imagine that it was just a fence. We would find other ways to get to school.”
Curtis said that addressing student mental health is also important for decreasing suicide rates.
“Mental health initiatives are only one side of the equation and are being thoroughly worked on by PAUSD wellness staff and students,” Curtis said. “I’m currently working with [Assistant Principal] Mr. [Jerry] Berkson and Paly Bring Change to Mind [Club] to create a mental health workshop for incoming freshmen about resources and how to recognize mental health issues in your friends.”
According to Curtis, there are other ways to get to school if the Churchill crossing were to be closed.
“When this pattern continues for almost two decades, we have to take a step back and realize we are doing something wrong,” Curtis said. “Imagine if the crossing had never been there in the first place. Imagine that it was just a fence. We would find other ways to get to school.”
Nick Mehta, the father of Summer Mehta, who died by suicide on the tracks a month ago, said the Churchill crossing is too easily accessible to students, especially those who are going through a hard time.
“Summer’s death was catalyzed by what we [Palo Alto community members] are talking about today,” Mehta said. “Churchill created an easy means for her to act impulsively at a low moment. I urge you to close Churchill. It’s too late for my daughter but not too late for yours.”
All 40 speakers agreed to prioritize the well-being of students, but not all attendees said the crossing should be closed. Palo Alto retiree Eileen Fagan said that enforcing a temporary closure of the Churchill crossing is not the most effective solution.
“I fear the emotional reaction to close the Churchill crossing is not the solution to this crisis, and is a band-aid on the wrong problem,” Fagan said. “Those early suicides triggered a CDC investigation. Of the 10 students who died by suicide in those first clusters, only one was at Churchill crossing.”
Fagan said she was also worried about a temporary closure not being fully temporary.
“If we close it [Churchill crossing] temporarily, are we really going to close it temporarily?” Fagan said.
Palo Alto school board president Shounak Dharap said the board is in full support of closing the crossing, although they don’t have decision-making power on this subject.
“We [the school board] agree that it [closing Churchill] is a step that should be taken if feasible,” Dharap said. “The board is unanimous in its support for this idea.”
According to Curtis, there are other ways to get to school that do not involve crossing Churchill.
“There’s always an alternative [route], especially when biking to school — the Homer underpass, the California Avenue underpass, the Embarcadero underpass,” Curtis said. “I know kids who even take different routes everyday depending on what they feel like.”
Curtis said that school should feel like a safe space for students.
“Above all, we should prioritize student safety over inconvenience,” Curtis said. “I don’t want my classmates to take a graveyard to school anymore.”
If you or a friend are in need of immediate support, use the resources listed below:
Call 911 or 988 Lifeline
Crisis Text Line: Text ‘HOME’ or ‘HOLA’ to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or Text 988
Trevor Lifeline LGBTQ+ Crisis Support: 1-866-488-7386
Bill Wilson Youth Hotline (24-hour Suicide & Crisis Line): 408-850-6125
