November 4, 2025
Department
DATE: November 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
Hillal Hamdan, PE, Senior Civil Engineer
Subject:
Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement with
RailPros Field Service, Inc for the Transformative Climate Communities Wellness Trail
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City has been awarded grant funding from the California Strategic Growth Council’s Transformative
Climate Communities (TCC) Round 4 Implementation
Grant. This Agreement, in the amount of $25,000, is fully funded through the TCC grant as part of the Richmond
Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project. There is no impact to the City’s General Fund (Account String: 13761019-400201-
16G12).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
June 21, 2022
December 20, 2022
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Richmond Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project includes
improvements affecting railroad tracks and the Richmond Pacific Railroad Corporation (RPRC) right-of-way. RPRC
requires that all work within its right-of-way be governed by a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement to
ensure proper review, coordination, and oversight.
RailPros Field Services, Inc. (RPFS), as RPRC’s
consultant, will provide the necessary expertise to
support these activities. Authorization and execution of the agreement is required for the project to proceed.
AGENDA
REPORT
November 4, 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution and AUTHORIZE the Public Works
Director and the City Engineer to execute a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement between RailPros Field
Services, Inc., a consultant for the Richmond Pacific
Railroad Corporation, for the Transformative Climate
Communities– Richmond Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project
- Public Works Department (Hillal Hamdan 510-620-
1612/Robert Armijo 510-620-5477).
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 1). The TCC Round 4 Implementation Grant funds outreach, planning, design, and construction phases for projects that advance the Strategic Growth Council’s sustainability objectives, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air and water quality, enhancing transportation options, and strengthening community resilience to the impacts of climate change. The program focuses on 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 the 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 connection from the combined BART/Amtrak station to the Richmond Ferry Terminal. Furthermore, the Project supports 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; replacement of the traffic signal at Cutting Boulevard and Wright Avenue; installation of pedestrian- and bicycle- scale lighting along the Marina Way segment; and enhancement of the Richmond Pacific Railroad Corporation (RPRC) crossing at Marina Way South, including new signage, striping, paving, and detectable warning devices.
The proposed improvements at the RPRC crossing will require encroaching on the RPRC right-of-way. As such, RPRC is requiring the City to enter into a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement (Agreement) between RailPros Field Services, Inc. (RPFS)—a consultant for RPRC—and the City of Richmond to allow RPRC to review and provide services related to the City’s proposed plans, specifications, and construction of improvements at the Marina Way South crossing (DOT# 751656U) (Attachment 2).
November 4, 2025
City staff recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Public Works Director and the City Engineer to execute the Agreement with RPRC for the TCC – Richmond Wellness Trail Phase 2 Project, in an amount not to exceed $25,000 (Attachment 3). The Agreement is fully funded by the TCC Implementation Grant. The design phase of the Project commenced in June 2024 and is anticipated to be completed by August 2025. Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 and conclude in 2027. Coordination with RPRC during design and construction will ensure that rail operations remain safe and uninterrupted.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – TCC Grant Award Letter Richmond
Attachment 2 – RPRC Railway Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement Attachment 3 – Resolution