Richmond Greenway
Years: 1997-2007

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Location:
Richmond, Calif.

Prepared for:
City of Richmond

Partners:
City of Richmond; California Coastal Conservancy; The Firedoll Foundation; California Center for Physical Activity; Vali Cooper and Associates

Project Deliverables:
Richmond Greenway Master Plan; community outreach; secured funding on behalf of City of Richmond

Project Description:
Beginning in 1904, the Atchison-Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF) carried freight through the city of Richmond, reaching its height during World War II when Richmond became a national leader of wartime industry and the woman's labor movement. This same corridor, which has sat unused in the heart of Richmond for more than 25 years, has begun a transformation into the Richmond Greenway. The Richmond Greenway is a three-mile community bicycle and pedestrian rail-trail that will also bring 32 new acres of vibrant open space to a densely populated, underserved community with few recreational opportunities and scarce green space. The Richmond Greenway will soon provide pedestrian and bicycle access to other regional trails, and make key connections with community resources and public transportation.

The entire Greenway will be constructed in phases. The first phase, known as the "western segment," from the intersection with the Bay Trail  at Garrard Avenue to 23rd Street, will be constructed with funds from two primary sources—the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Transportation for Livable Community  program and Contra Costa Transportation Authority's State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Phase 1 will also include on-street striping and signage from 23rd Street via Potrero Avenue to where it intersects with the Ohlone Greenway in El Cerrito. Future phases will involve constructing the eastern portion along the former railroad right-of-way from 23rd Street to San Pablo Avenue, acquiring an easement or land for the final portion of the Greenway, constructing a bicycle/pedestrian overpass at 23rd Street, and a crossing at San Pablo Avenue.

Project Description:
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has been involved in the Richmond Greenway project since 1997 helping the city secure more than $2 million in planning and construction funding; producing the Richmond Greenway Master Plan; and conducting community outreach.

The city of Richmond is well on its way towards constructing the Richmond Greenway. Through the hard work of the City, its consultant team led by Vali Cooper and Associates staff at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Caltrans Local Assistance, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the City has received notice to proceed with contracting and construction. The City expects to break ground on the first segment of the Greenway in summer 2006.
 
The constructed trail will be the result of many years of work by the Richmond community. City staff and elected officials, as well as community-based, nonprofit and governmental organizations have envisioned, planned and funded the trail thus far. Assemblywoman Dionne Aroner, Senator Don Perata, Congressman George Miller, City Council member Tom Butt, the Coastal Conservancy, RTC, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Contra Costa County Transportation Authority and many others have played significant roles in bringing this project to its current fruition.