December 2, 2025
PORT
Economic Development
DATE: December 2, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Charles Gerard, Port Director
Lizeht Zepeda, Senior Business Assistance Officer
Kyle Lam, Management Analyst
Subject:
Accept Grant Funding and Approve Contract Amendment
No. 1 with Momentum for Port Dock Restoration
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Port has requested $11,224,449 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation
Maritime Administration (MARAD) under the Port
Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) (Funding
Opportunity Number: MA-PID-25-001) for the Dock
Restoration for Improved Vehicle Entry (DRIVE) Project.
The Port will provide local matching contributions of
$2,806,112 from the Port of Richmond Enterprise Fund
(4001).
The proposed first amendment to the fiscal Year 2025–
2026 on-call contract with Momentum is for $140,000,
contingent upon grant award.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Port of Richmond applied for $11,224,449 in federal grant funding through the U.S. Department of
Transportation Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port
Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) for the Dock
Restoration for Improved Vehicle Entry (DRIVE) Project
at Point Potrero Marine Terminal (PPMT) Berth 7. The
AGENDA
REPORT
December 2, 2025
proposed improvements will enhance wharf load
capacity, increase Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo) efficiency,
and strengthen the terminal’s resiliency. City Council
approval is required to accept and appropriate the PIDP grant funds and $2,806,112 in Port Enterprise Fund
matching contributions upon award; and to approve a
$140,000 amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025–26 on-call
contract with Momentum, under the City’s pre-approved
on-call grant services list, to provide post-award grant administration and management services contingent
upon receipt of federal funding.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE,
contingent upon award, $11,224,449 in grant funds from
the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime
Administration (MARAD) and $2,806,112 in Port
Enterprise Fund matching contributions into the Port
Enterprise Fund budget; and to APPROVE the first
amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025–26 on-call contract
with Momentum in the amount of $140,000, contingent
upon grant award, for post-award grant administration
and management services for the Dock Restoration for
Improved Vehicle Entry (DRIVE) Project – Economic
Development/Port (Charles Gerard 510-620-6792).
DISCUSSION:
Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Grant
The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) is the federal agency responsible for supporting the nation’s ports and maritime transportation system. MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) provides competitive federal funding for port projects that improve safety, efficiency, resilience, and environmental performance.
For Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, MARAD released the PIDP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (Funding Opportunity Number: MA-PID-25-001) to solicit applications for port and intermodal projects that enhance goods movement and strengthen supply chains.
Under this NOFO, projects selected for funding must have grant agreements executed by September 30, 2029, and funds expended within five years of obligation, but no later than September 30, 2034, depending on the date of award.
Port Grant Application and Momentum’s Role
In response to this opportunity, the Port of Richmond, with the assistance of Momentum, prepared and submitted a grant application for the Dock Restoration for
December 2, 2025
Improved Vehicle Entry (DRIVE) Project by the extended federal deadline of September 10, 2025 (Attachment 1).
Momentum was retained under Resolution No. 106-24, which established on-call grant services contracts for City departments. Under its FY 2024–25 on-call contract, Momentum supported the Port in developing the PIDP grant application, including project narrative, benefit-cost analysis, and supporting materials (Attachment 2).
The Port subsequently entered into a second on-call contract with Momentum for FY 2025–26, with a not-to-exceed amount of $100,000, including an initial allowance of $50,000 and an additional $50,000 subject to Port Director approval. If the PIDP grant is awarded, the proposed first amendment will add $140,000 to this second contract for post-award grant administration, compliance tracking, and coordination with MARAD, bringing the total not-to-exceed amount to $240,000.
The DRIVE Project
The Dock Restoration for Improved Vehicle Entry (DRIVE) Project at the Port of Richmond will restore and modernize Berth 7 at the Point Potrero Marine Terminal (PPMT), the Port’s primary Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo) wharf currently operated by Auto Warehousing Company (AWC). The Port applied for $11,224,449 in federal funding through the FY 2025 Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to support a total project cost of $14,030,561, with a 20 percent local match provided through the Port’s Capital Improvement Program
The project entails structural rehabilitation and modernization to address critical deficiencies that currently limit Berth 7’s load-bearing capacity and operational efficiency. Improvements include:
Repair and replacement of deteriorated piles, beams, and deck sections to restore full structural integrity;
Reinforcement of the wharf apron and tie-beams to enhance seismic resilience and long-term durability;
Deck resurfacing, lighting, and utility upgrades to improve safety and accommodate heavier RoRo cargo; and
Preparatory work for future installation of shore-power infrastructure and clean- energy systems.
Following completion, Berth 7’s load-bearing capacity will increase from as low as 50 pounds per square foot(PSF) to 200 PSF on the inner wharf and 390 PSF on the outer wharf—bringing the facility in line with modern automobile-handling standards. The project will increase RoRo throughput by approximately 28,000 vehicles per year (a 35 percent increase), reduce vessel dwell times by 10 percent, and remove bottlenecks that currently restrict the use of the Port’s national freight rail and regional highway connections.
These improvements will:
December 2, 2025
Enhance safety by eliminating risk of local collapse and providing stable working surfaces for cargo-handling personnel and equipment;
Improve reliability by reducing unplanned maintenance and extending the wharf’s operational life;
Boost economic vitality by supporting additional cargo volumes, sustaining unionized longshore and logistics jobs, and improving the Port’s competitiveness; and
Increase resilience against seismic and climate-related hazards by incorporating modern design standards.
Together, the DRIVE Project will ensure continued use of the Port of Richmond as a key multimodal freight node in Northern California, strengthen the City’s economic base, and preserve the public’s investment in critical maritime infrastructure.
Next Steps
If MARAD awards the grant, the Port and City will:
Accept and appropriate the PIDP grant funds into the Port Enterprise Fund budget (Attachment 3);
Appropriate the required Port Enterprise Fund match of $2,806,112; and Execute a contract amendment with Momentum for grant administration and management services (Attachment 4).
These actions will enable the Port to move forward promptly with grant execution and ensure compliance with MARAD’s reporting, procurement, and performance requirements.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
The proposed action supports the City of Richmond General Plan 2030, which identifies the Port as a critical economic engine and emphasizes investment in maritime infrastructure to promote job creation and goods movement.
It also aligns with the City’s Climate Action Plan by improving freight-handling efficiency, reducing vessel and truck dwell times, and supporting resilient, low-emission transportation infrastructure.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 3 – Proposed Resolution
Attachment 4 – Proposed First Contract Amendment with Build Momentum Attachment 2 – Executed Contract with Build Momentum
Attachment 1 – Project Narrative of PIDP Grant Application