September 15, 2026
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Public Works
DATE: September 15, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Gail Payne, Senior Transportation Planner
Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works /City
Engineer
Subject: Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement with the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company
(“BNSF”) for the Downtown Point Richmond Bicycle and
Pedestrian Connectivity Project
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $50,000 expenditure is included within the approved Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget for the
Downtown Point Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian
Connectivity Project and is fully funded by a combination of a Transportation Development Act state grant, a
federal Housing Incentive Pool grant, a Subregional
Transportation Mitigation Program grant, and developer
impact fees totaling $1,904,567 (Account String:
10636031-331327-23060).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
November 4, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) requires
all work conducted by the City of Richmond within the
BNSF right-of-way to be subject to a Preliminary
Engineering Services Agreement for BNSF to collaborate
with City of Richmond on the development of the project.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
(BNSF) Railway Company for a term commencing on
September 16, 2026, and terminating on June 30, 2029,
in an amount not to exceed $50,000 and ADOPT a
resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the
AGENDA
REPORT
September 15, 2026
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agreement – Public Works Department (Gail Payne 510-
620-6716/Daniel Chavarria 510-620-5478).
DISCUSSION:
The Downtown Point Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity Project, a component of the 2021 Richmond Ferry to Bridge to Greenway Complete Streets Plan, seeks to close a key gap in the citywide bicycle network and the regional San Francisco Bay Trail while improving bicycle and pedestrian safety and access (Attachment 1).
The proposed improvements at the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) crossing will require encroaching on the BNSF Railway Company right-of-way. As such, BNSF is requiring the City to enter into a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement (Agreement) to allow BNSF to review and provide services related to the City’s proposed plans, specifications, and construction of improvements at the West Richmond Avenue crossing (Attachments 2 and 3).
City staff are recommending that the City Council approve the Agreement with BNSF Railway Company for the Downtown Point Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity Project, for a term of September 16, 2026, to June 30, 2029, in an amount not to exceed $50,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement, as set forth in the proposed resolution (Attachment 4). The costs related to the Agreement are fully funded by the Downtown Point Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity Project – Fund #23060. The conceptual design and community engagement phase of the project commenced in March 2026, with design completion expected by July 2027.
Construction is anticipated to begin in March 2028 and conclude by spring 2029.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
The project supports citywide goals related to active transportation, economic vitality, quality of life and health equity and is a component of the 2021 Richmond Ferry to Bridge to Greenway Complete Streets Plan.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Project Overview
Attachment 2 – BNSF Agreement
Attachment 3 – Map
Attachment 4 – Resolution