February 4, 2025
Public Works
DATE: February 4, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works
Robert Armijo PE, Deputy Director of Public Works/City
Engineer
Wendy Wellbrock, Senior Civil Engineer
Subject:
Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Preliminary Engineering
Agreement for the Transformative Climate Communities
(TCC) - Richmond Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City has been awarded grant funding from the California Strategic Growth Council’s Transformative
Climate Communities (TCC) Round 4 Implementation
Grant. The Richmond Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project is
fully funded by the TCC Implementation Grant, including the $15,000 for the UPRR Preliminary Engineering
Agreement. Account String: 13761019-400201-16G12
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
June 21, 2022,
December 20, 2022
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff is requesting adoption of a resolution
authorizing staff to execute a Union Pacific Railroad
(UPRR) Preliminary Engineer Agreement for a portion of
the Richmond Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project which will
affect railroad's track and UPRR right-of-way. UPRR
requires all work conducted by the City of Richmond
within the UPRR right-of-way to be subject to a
Preliminary Engineer Agreement for UPRR to collaborate
with City of Richmond on the conceptualization and
development of the project.
AGENDA
REPORT
February 4, 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution authorizing the Public Works Director and the City Engineer to execute a Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Preliminary Engineer Agreement for the
Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) – Richmond
Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project– Public Works Department (Robert Armijo 510-620-5477/Wendy Wellbrock 510-307-
8108).
DISCUSSION:
On October 27, 2022, the City of Richmond and its partners, Groundwork Richmond, GRID Alternatives, Rich City Rides, Trust for Public Land (TPL), and Urban Tilth were awarded a $35 million Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Round 4 Implementation Grant by the California Strategic Growth Council (Attachment 3). The TCC Round 4 Implementation Grant will fund outreach, planning, design and construction phases for projects that can advance the Strategic Growth Council’s sustainable communities objectives, such as improving air quality, improving water quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving transportation and strengthening community resiliency to the impacts of climate change focused in three of Richmond’s most environmentally burdened neighborhoods – Coronado, Iron Triangle and Santa Fe, as identified by CalEnviroScreen.
One of the projects funded by the TCC Round 4 Implementation Grant is the Richmond Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project (Project). The City has contracted with Trust for Public Land to lead implementation of the Project. The Project is located on Marina Way South between Cutting Boulevard and the Richmond Ferry terminal and includes the development of protected cycle tracks and shaded pedestrian routes to provide a continuous route from the combined BART/Amtrak station to the Richmond Ferry terminal. Furthermore, the Project will include implementation of the City of Richmond's General Plan, Pedestrian Plan, and Bicycle Master Plan.
Key improvements under this Project include the construction of 1,400 feet of two-way Class IV cycle track and 3,500 feet of one-way cycle track, replacing a traffic signal at Cutting Boulevard and Wright Avenue, installing pedestrian and bicycle scale lighting along the Marina Way segment, and enhancing UPRR crossing at Marina Way South - including new signs, striping, paving, and detectable warning devices.
The proposed improvements at the UPRR crossing will require encroaching on the UPRR right-of-way. As such, UPRR is requiring the City to enter into a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement (Agreement) to allow UPRR to review and provide services related to the City’s proposed plans, specifications, and construction of improvements at the Marina Way South crossing (Attachment 2).
Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the Public Works Director and the City Engineer to execute the Agreement with UPRR for the TCC - Richmond Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project, in an amount not to exceed $15,000 (Attachment 1). The
February 4, 2025
Agreement is fully funded by the TCC Implementation Grant. The design phase of the Project commenced in June 2024, with completion expected by August 2026.
Construction is anticipated to begin in November 2026 and conclude by June 2027.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Union Pacific Railroad Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement Attachment 3 – TCC Grant Award Letter Richmond