Accept and Appropriate the California Department of Transportation Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project

ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant award in the amount of $700,000 for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project

APPROPRIATE $90,693 in Measure J as matching funds, for a total project budget of $790,693

and AUTHORIZE the City Manager or their designee to execute the grant agreement, any amendments thereto, and related documents with Caltrans necessary to implement the grant-funded planning project – Public Works Department (Janney Lockman 510-307-8097/Gail Payne 510-620-6716/Daniel Chavarria 510-620-5478).

Financial Impact

Acceptance of this state grant award will provide $700,000 in grant funding to advance planning and design for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project. The grant requires a local match of $90,693 (11.47%), which is available from Measure J Fund 2002, for a total project budget of $790,693. There is no impact on the General Fund.

Previous Council Action

July 28, 2020 January 24, 2023

Statement Of The Issue

The City of Richmond has been awarded a California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project. City Council action is required to accept and appropriate the grant funds, commit the required local match, and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the restricted grant agreement and related documents with Caltrans.

Recommended Action

ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant award in the amount of $700,000 for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project; APPROPRIATE $90,693 in Measure J as matching funds, for a total project budget of $790,693; and AUTHORIZE the City Manager or their designee to execute the grant agreement, any amendments thereto, and related documents with Caltrans necessary to implement the grant-funded planning project – Public Works Department (Janney Lockman 510-307-8097/Gail Payne 510-620-6716/Daniel Chavarria 510-620-5478).

Discussion

The Richmond Greenway is a key regional bicycle and pedestrian corridor. However, the eastern and western segments are separated by 23rd Street, Carlson Boulevard, and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, a barrier collectively known as the “Greenway Gap,” as shown in the Project Area Map (Attachment 1). This gap requires people walking and bicycling to leave the Greenway and navigate rail crossings, truck traffic, and busy roadways.

In 2020, the City received a California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant award of $280,208 to evaluate options for closing the Greenway Gap. In January 2023, the City Council adopted the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Study, which identified a bicycle and pedestrian bridge as the preferred solution. The proposed bridge would connect the eastern and western portions of the Greenway over 23rd Street, Carlson Boulevard, and the Union Pacific railroad tracks, creating a safer, more continuous route and improving regional connections to the Ohlone Greenway, the San Francisco Bay Trail, and the Richmond- San Rafael Bridge.

The City has since been awarded a second Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant of $700,000 to support the next phase of project development. Grant- funded activities include additional planning, coordination with Union Pacific Railroad and the California Public Utilities Commission, community engagement, technical studies, and preparation for environmental review. This work will refine the bridge alignment and design concepts and will position the City to pursue future funding for environmental documentation, final design, and construction.

As a condition of receiving the grant, Caltrans requires the City to adopt a resolution authorizing execution of the grant agreement. In addition, the grant requires a local match of $90,693 (11.47%), for a total project budget of $790,693 (Attachment 2).

The proposed action does not authorize consultant contracts, approve a final design, authorize construction, or commit the City to future implementation costs. Any

subsequent contracts, construction funding, or other actions requiring City Council approval will return for consideration at a later date.

Under the grant agreement, the City must provide regular progress reports, submit reimbursement requests and supporting financial records, fulfill the required local match, complete the grant-funded work by June 30, 2029, and submit final deliverables by August 29, 2029. The City must also coordinate with railroad, regulatory, transportation, and utility stakeholders throughout the planning process.

The grant requires a local match of $90,693 from Measure J funds. If the City Council does not accept the grant and authorize execution of the grant agreement, the City will forfeit the award and will need to identify another funding source to advance planning for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project.

Accepting and appropriating the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant award will allow the City to advance planning and preliminary design for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project using external funding. City staff recommend adopting a resolution accepting the grant award, committing and appropriating the required matching funds, and authorizing the City Manager or their designee to execute the grant agreement.

DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:

Attachment 1 – Project Area Map Attachment 2 – Resolution Attachment 3 – Restricted Grant Agreement Template

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1.) Project Location Maps Figure 1A: Project Location Source: Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Study, Final Draft, January 2023 Figure 1B: High-Risk Streets & Collision Severity Map Source: Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Study, Final Draft, January 2023 The Greenway Gap Project Richmond Richmond Greenway - West Richmond Greenway - East BART UPRR Utilities Carlson Blvd 23rd St Dirt World Pullman Portal Park Attachment 2 - Project Area Map

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Reso. No. _____

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RESOLUTION NO. XX-26

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND ACCEPTING A CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING GRANT AWARD FOR THE RICHMOND GREENWAY GAP CLOSURE PROJECT, COMMITTING REQUIRED LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS, APPROPRIATING GRANT AND MATCHING FUNDS, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

• (Caltrans) Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project (Project); and

SECTION 1. The City Council accepts the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant award in the amount of $700,000 for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project.

SECTION 2. The City Council commits local matching funds in the amount of $90,693 from the Measure J Fund for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project.

SECTION 3. The City Council appropriates $700,000 in Caltrans grant funds and $90,693 in Measure J matching funds, for a total project appropriation of $790,693.

SECTION 4. The City Manager or their designee is authorized to execute all Restricted Grant Agreements and any amendments thereto with Caltrans for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.

SECTION 5. The City Manager or their designee is authorized to execute related certifications, requests for reimbursement, reports, and administrative documents necessary to accept and implement the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant for the Richmond Greenway Gap Closure Project.

SECTION 6. This Resolution does not authorize construction, approve final design, or commit the City of Richmond to future implementation costs beyond the grant and matching funds expressly approved herein.

Reso. No. _____

DocID #74942v1

SECTION 7. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage.

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I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held July 21, 2026, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSTENTIONS:

ABSENT:

PAMELA CHRISTIAN CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND

(SEAL)

Approved:

EDUARDO MARTINEZ Mayor

Approved as to form:

SHANNON MOORE Interim City Attorney

State of California

} County of Contra Costa

: ss.

City of