Public Works
DATE: May 26, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works/City
Engineer
Hillal Hamdan, PE, Senior Civil Engineer
Subject:
Freeway Maintenance Agreement Amendment with
California Department of Transportation at the
intersection of Central Ave and I-80 (“Caltrans”).
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding for maintenance responsibilities associated with the amended Freeway Maintenance Agreement is
included within the approved Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Public Works budget. No additional appropriation is
required, and there is no impact to the General Fund. Any costs arising from this agreement will be funded through existing resources (Account String:
10234431-400645-01A05).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City Council is being asked to approve an amendment to
the Freeway Maintenance Agreement with the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to update and
clarify maintenance responsibilities associated with new bicycle, pedestrian, and undercrossing improvements at
the Central Avenue and I-80 interchange.
AGENDA
REPORT
RECOMMENDED ACTION: ADOPT a resolution to APPROVE an amendment to the Freeway Maintenance Agreement with the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to update
maintenance responsibilities associated with new bicycle and pedestrian improvements at the Central Avenue and
Interstate-80 interchange and AUTHORIZE the City
Manager, or their designee, to execute the agreement –
Public Works Department (Hillal Hamdan 510-621-
1612/Daniel Chavarria 510-620-5478).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond and Caltrans share jurisdictional responsibility for the maintenance of public facilities located at intersection of Central Ave and Highway I-80 (HWY I-80) (Attachment 1). Maintenance responsibilities between the two parties are detailed in the Freeway Maintenance Agreement (FMA) (Attachment 2). Caltrans recently received a grant to implement bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements and connectivity along Central Avenue from the east side of HWY I-80 to the west side of HWY I-80, where facilities connecting to the Bay Trail have already been installed. The proposed improvements include a segment along Central Avenue underneath the elevated HWY I-80 deck. After construction is completed, the improvements will be handed over to the City of Richmond for maintenance in accordance with standard practice. To formalize the changes in maintenance responsibilities resulting from the construction of this bicycle and pedestrian safety project, the City and Caltrans must amend the existing FMA to address new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure that will be maintained by the City.
Shared‑ maintenance agreements of this nature are standard throughout California and are intended to ensure consistency, fairness, and equitable distribution of maintenance obligations between agencies. This framework establishes clear responsibilities for infrastructure elements such as traffic signals, lighting systems, sidewalks, pavement striping, and other facilities that serve both State and local roadway users.
The proposed amended FMA consolidates the maintenance responsibilities for the City and Caltrans. The amendment clarifies the facilities covered under the agreement, including bicycle infrastructure, and reflects the proposed new public infrastructure for undercrossing, pedestrian, and bike improvements that are part of the City street intersection at Central Avenue and State Highway Route 80 Project as depicted in Exhibit A-1 of the amended FMA (Attachment 3). Exhibit A-1 supersedes Exhibit A from the original FMA and replaces all prior representations of the intersection of Central Ave and I-80 interchange.
By adopting the resolution, the City Council authorizes the City Manager to execute the amended FMA, thereby formalizing the City’s maintenance obligations. This action aligns with the Council’s original 1960 directive to maintain the right of way within the City’s jurisdiction and ensures that the City continues to contribute its fair share toward
the maintenance of roadway infrastructure at the State Highway intersections represented in Exhibit A-1.
City staff recommend that the City Council adopt the resolution to approve the amended agreement and authorize the City Manager to execute the amended FMA with Caltrans (Attachment 4).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Location Map
Attachment 2 – Existing Freeway Maintenance Agreement
Attachment 3 – Freeway Maintenance Agreement Amendment
Attachment 4 – Resolution