May 6, 2025
Public Works
DATE: May 6, 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
Janney Lockman, Associate Transportation Planner
Subject:
Appropriation of Funds for the Long-Range
Transportation Infrastructure Planning Study
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding is available in the Measure J Fund 2002 Fund Balance. City staff are recommending appropriating
funds in the amount of $315,000 to complete this project. (Account String: 20236031-400532-23062)
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City must prepare a long-range transportation
infrastructure plan to support a nexus study consistent with the Mitigation Fee Act (Government Code § 66000
et seq.). The proposed Long-Range Transportation
Infrastructure Planning Study will evaluate existing
conditions, forecast future growth, and identify a list of capacity-expanding transportation projects. This project list will be used by the Finance Department to prepare a nexus study that supports potential future updates to the City’s Traffic Impact Fee.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to APPROPRIATE funds in the
amount of $315,000 from Measure J Fund 2002 to
complete a long-range transportation infrastructure
planning study – Public Works (Janney Lockman 307-
8097/Robert Armijo 620-5477).
AGENDA
REPORT
May 6, 2025
DISCUSSION:
Traffic Impact Fees are one-time fees paid by developers to offset the impacts of new development on the City’s transportation infrastructure. Under the Mitigation Fee Act (Government Code § 66000 et seq.), the City must demonstrate a reasonable relationship, or “nexus,” between the fee imposed and the infrastructure improvements funded by that fee. This nexus is typically documented through a formal study that evaluates existing infrastructure conditions, forecasts future growth and demand, and identifies a list of capacity-expanding projects needed to support that growth.
During the most recent update to the City’s Master Fee Schedule in June 2024, Richmond did not update its Traffic Impact Fee due to the absence of a current, long- range transportation infrastructure plan. Without an updated project list and cost estimates, the City is not currently positioned to support a formal nexus study, which is necessary to consider potential adjustments to the existing fee and to ensure consistency with applicable requirements.
To address this, Public Works proposes developing a Long-Range Transportation Infrastructure Planning Study. The study will assess the City’s existing multimodal transportation system, forecast demand based on expected development, and identify transportation improvement projects that expand system capacity, such as roadway upgrades, bike and pedestrian enhancements, and other complete streets elements.
The resulting list of projects and associated costs will be provided to the Finance Department, which will use that information to produce a formal nexus study in compliance with the Mitigation Fee Act and determine whether adjustments to the Traffic Impact Fee are warranted. If funding is allocated and appropriated, City staff will hire a traffic engineering consulting firm to complete the study.
City staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution to appropriate $315,000 from Measure J funds to complete the Long-Range Transportation Infrastructure Planning Study. This will enable the City to meet statutory requirements and proceed with updating its Traffic Impact Fee.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution