June 7, 2022
Public Works
DATE: June 7, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Joe Leach, PE, Director of Public Works
Patrick Phelan, Infrastructure Administrator
Subject:
Transportation Development Act (TDA) Grant Contracts
with Bike East Bay and SOS! Richmond
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding is provided by an award from the TDA grant program totaling $25,000 for Bike East Bay and $30,000
for SOS! Richmond (Account string:15436431-400201-
23023)
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
February 16, 2021 – City Council adopted a resolution
authorizing the grant application and accepted and
appropriated the funds
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Department of Public Works is requesting City
Council approval to award a contract to Bike East Bay for bicycle safety education and to SOS! Richmond for
maintenance of the Richmond Greenway.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a Transportation Development Act (TDA)
grant-funded contract with Bike East Bay to provide two years of bicycle safety education, in an amount not to
exceed $25,000; and a contract with SOS! Richmond to
provide one year of maintenance of the Richmond
Greenway in an amount not to exceed $30,000. Bike
East Bay contract will have a term starting June 7, 2022 and ending June 7, 2024. SOS! Richmond contract will
have a term starting July 1, 2022 and ending June 30,
2023 – Public Works (Joe Leach/Patrick Phelan 307-
8111). This item was continued from the May 3, 2022,
meeting.
AGENDA
REPORT
June 7, 2022
DISCUSSION:
In November 2020, City staff collaborated with the Richmond Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee to propose a project application for the 2021-22 Transportation Development Act Article 3 (TDA 3) fund. The project includes a 2-year bicycle safety education program with Bike East Bay. Contract start date is June 7, 2022, and end date is June 7, 2024.
In February 2021, City Council adopted a resolution authorizing a request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the allocation of fiscal year 2021-2022 TDA 3 pedestrian/bicycle project funding and accepted and appropriated the grant funds for the successful application.
Bike East Bay collaborates with the City of Richmond in many ways and is a logical partner as their award-winning education program has provided free classes to tens of thousands of adults, youth, and families in multiple languages over two decades. This contract will bring important programming to Richmond, providing one-on-one support and encouragement for residents to take advantage of the investments being made by the City in active transportation infrastructure. Having programming tailored to the City’s needs will go a long way to encourage more local residents to try out bike lanes and paths, especially new or less-confident bike riders. The proposed program includes four (4) one (1)-hour workshops, one (1) adult learn-to-ride class, and four (4) family cycling workshops.
The Richmond Greenway is a treasured walking, biking, and recreational path running through the heart of Richmond, but the serious problems of illegal dumping and homelessness, and the lack of maintenance, especially litter removal, threaten the viability of this public space and active transit corridor. Volunteers and non-profit groups who try to activate the Greenway spend more time picking up trash than running their engagement programs. SOS! Richmond is a community network that engages with, provides stipends to, and employs leaders of the unsheltered community to self-manage shared public spaces. Fiscally sponsored by Rebuilding Together East Bay North, SOS deploys its teams throughout Richmond. The Greenway is an excellent candidate for deepening its partnership with Friends of the Richmond Greenway and City of Richmond Parks & Landscaping. With this contract, the SOS team will increase their presence at the Greenway between 2nd Street and San Pablo Avenue to provide regular trash cleanup, security, and community engagement to deter unsafe trail conditions.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Contract with Bike East Bay
Attachment 2 – Contract with SOS! Richmond
Attachment 3 – Minutes from Feb 16, 2021, Council Meeting Attachment 4 – Resolution 5-21 Authorizing Funding Allocation Attachment 5 – County Resolution
Attachment 6 – Email Notice to Proceed