Public Works
DATE: June 23, 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:
Roadway Modification at Glenn Avenue and McBryde
Avenue for the McBryde Avenue Safe Routes to Park
Project
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This work will be implemented as part of the McBryde Avenue Safe Routes to Park Project, which is funded
through the One Bay Area Grant Program (OBAG3). The
costs associated with the proposed roadway
modifications are included within the approved Fiscal
Year 2025-2026 Public Works Department budget
(Account Strings: 15436431-400733-23039,
20136031-400733-23039). This action does not require a
new appropriation and represents a one-time capital
improvement expenditure associated with the Project.
Any future maintenance obligations related to
landscaping or other improvements will be addressed
through interagency coordination and future maintenance agreements as needed.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff from the City of Richmond, in coordination with the City of San Pablo, Richmond Fire Department and
Richmond Police Department, seek City Council approval
to modify the Glenn Avenue and McBryde Avenue
intersection by closing the direct vehicular connection at McBryde Avenue in order to improve roadway safety,
reduce cut-through traffic, while maintaining pedestrian AGENDA
REPORT
and bicycle connectivity associated with the McBryde
Avenue Safe Routes to Park Project.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to APPROVE a roadway
modification associated with the McBryde Avenue Safe
Routes to Park Project, including closure of the direct vehicular connection between Glenn Avenue and
McBryde Avenue to improve traffic safety, reduce cut-
through traffic, and support pedestrian and bicycle
connectivity – Public Works Department (Hillal Hamdan
510-621-1612/Daniel Chavarria 510-620-5478). This
item was continued from the June 16, 2026, meeting.
DISCUSSION:
City Council approval is requested because the proposed improvements include a permanent change to the public street network through the closure of the direct vehicular connection between Glenn Avenue and McBryde Avenue (Attachment 1). This action would authorize City staff to proceed with final design and implementation of the preferred roadway configuration as part of the McBryde Avenue Safe Routes to Park Project.
In 2025, City staff from the City of Richmond and the City of San Pablo coordinated on safety improvements along the McBryde Avenue corridor as part of the McBryde Avenue Safe Routes to Park Project (Project). The Project includes traffic calming improvements, bicycle facilities, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, paving improvements, sidewalks, and updated striping and signage.
As part of the Project, City staff evaluated operational and safety conditions at the intersection of Glenn Avenue and McBryde Avenue, including roadway geometry, limited sight distance, short block spacing, intersection skew, cut-through traffic, and pedestrian and bicycle connectivity associated with Wildcat Canyon Regional Park.
Based on this engineering review, closure of the direct vehicular connection between Glenn Avenue and McBryde Avenue was identified as the preferred alternative (Attachment 2).
The proposed roadway modifications would reduce vehicular conflict points, simplify traffic circulation patterns, improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, and reduce cut- through traffic using Glenn Avenue to bypass the signalized intersection at McBryde Avenue and Amador Street. The proposed improvements would maintain neighborhood access through the surrounding street network, including access from Glenn Avenue through Yuba Avenue to McBryde Avenue, and would maintain access for emergency response vehicles and adjacent properties.
The City of San Pablo reviewed the improvement plans and provided written support for the proposed modifications to Glenn Avenue, Marin Avenue, and Yuba Avenue near the Richmond/San Pablo jurisdictional boundary. The City of San Pablo also identified
several coordination items associated with the proposed improvements, including encroachment permits for Americans with Disabilities Act ramp work within San Pablo jurisdiction, coordination with adjacent property owners, visual identification of jurisdictional boundaries, and a maintenance agreement for proposed landscaping improvements. Richmond staff intends to address these coordination items during final design and implementation (Attachment 3).
In November 2025, City staff conducted a community meeting regarding the proposed improvements and received generally positive feedback regarding the proposed roadway modifications (Attachment 5). City staff also coordinated with the Richmond Fire Department and Richmond Police Department regarding emergency access considerations.
Under a no-action alternative, the existing roadway configuration would remain in place, and the identified operational and safety concerns associated with intersection geometry, vehicle conflicts, and cut-through traffic would continue.
City staff recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the roadway modification associated with the McBryde Avenue Safe Routes to Park Project, including closure of the direct vehicular connection between Glenn Avenue and McBryde Avenue (Attachment 4). The proposed modification would improve traffic safety, reduce cut-through traffic, and support pedestrian and bicycle connectivity while allowing City staff to proceed with final design and implementation of the proposed improvements.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Location Map
Attachment 2 – Conceptual Improvement Exhibit
Attachment 3 – City of San Pablo Letter of Support
Attachment 4 – Resolution
Attachment 5 – PowerPoint- Glenn_Avenue_Council_Final