September 23, 2025
DocID #52969v1
Public Works
DATE: September 23, 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
Hillal Hamdan, PE, Senior Engineer
Subject:
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a
Cooperative Agreement with Caltrans for the Central
Avenue I-80 Undercrossing Pedestrian and Bicycle
Improvements Project.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $50,000 expenditure is included within the approved Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget in the Measure
J Fund. This contribution fulfills the City’s prior funding commitment made in 2020 (Account String: 20236031 –
400261).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City of Richmond previously pledged $50,000 in
support of the Central Avenue I-80 Undercrossing
Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Project. City
Council action is required at this time to adopt a
resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a
cooperative agreement with Caltrans to formalize this
funding commitment.
AGENDA
REPORT
September 23, 2025
DocID #52969v1
RECOMMENDED ACTION: ADOPT a resolution and AUTHORIZE the city manager to execute a cooperative agreement with Caltrans for the City of Richmond’s $50,000 contribution to the Central
Avenue I-80 Undercrossing Pedestrian and Bicycle
Improvements Project - Public Works Department (Hillal
Hamdan 510-621-1612/Robert Armijo 510-620-5477).
DISCUSSION:
The Active Transportation Program offers competitive grant funding for projects that enhance pedestrian and bicycle access. In strong support of Caltrans District 4’s application for an Active Transportation Program grant to fund the Central Avenue Interstate 80 Undercrossing Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Project, both the City of Richmond and the City of El Cerrito have expressed interest in contributing local funds to help Caltrans District 4 meet the required 10 percent local match.
On April 24, 2020, the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) adopted a resolution to contribute $400,000 from Measure J Program 28b (Subregional Needs) funds to Caltrans as a local match for its Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant application. The funds will support pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Central Avenue under the Interstate 80 overpass in the City of Richmond.
On July 27, 2020, the City of Richmond transmitted a letter to the California Transportation Commission expressing Richmond’s intent to contribute $50,000 as a local match in support of the Central Avenue Undercrossing Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Project (Attachment 1). On July 9, 2020, the City of El Cerrito similarly indicated its intent to provide $50,000 in support of the project (Attachment 2).
The project is located along Central Avenue at the I-80 crossing between San Joaquin Street/Jacuzzi Street and San Luis Street/Pierce Street in Richmond, immediately adjacent to the City of El Cerrito (Attachment 3).
The project scope includes upgrading pedestrian facilities, constructing new dedicated bikeways, and providing new pedestrian lighting and fencing. These improvements will strengthen regional connectivity by linking the El Cerrito Plaza BART station, the Bay Trail, Point Isabel, nearby retail centers, and surrounding neighborhoods, while enhancing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Caltrans District 4 will serve as the lead agency and will be responsible for design, construction, and overall project delivery, with the City’s role limited to the agreed financial contribution. This cooperative agreement is now required to formalize the City’s previously stated financial commitment and to enable Caltrans to proceed with implementation.
September 23, 2025
DocID #52969v1
Anticipated Project Timeline:
October 2024: Project Kick-off
November 2024 – February 2025: Data Collection & Analysis; Outreach begins January 2025 – June 2026: Engineering and Design, Construction Plans June 2026 – August 2026: Bid for Construction
September 2026 – March 2027: Construction
To document and fulfill the City of Richmond’s funding obligation, City staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a cooperative agreement between Caltrans and the City of Richmond to memorialize the City’s contribution of $50,000 to support the I-80/Central Avenue Undercrossing project (Attachments 4 and 5).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – City Manager’s 2020 Commitment Letter
Attachment 2 – Letters of support
Attachment 3 – Project location map
Attachment 4 – Resolution
Attachment 5 – Cooperative agreement with Caltrans