Rendering of 4th Street looking west on the Richmond Greenway, prepared by Alta Planning
	Richmond Greenway Phasing Map. Click to Enlarge.

Rail-Trail Project:
The Richmond Greenway

"Traversing the heart of Richmond, California, the conversion of a three-mile former rail corridor to an urban greenbelt and trail presents an exceptional opportunity for community revitalization.

The corridor's vital central location, connection with local and regional transit, non-motorized transportation facilities, and myriad common destinations make it an enormously promising project. The Richmond Greenway will serve as a key link in a growing regional network of trails and other biking and walking facilities."

- from the Richmond Greenway Master Plan , 2003.


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 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.

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, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 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.

For more information contact:
Ben Gettleman, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Western Regional office: (415) 397-2220
benjamin@railtrails.org

Rich Davidson, City of Richmond: (510) 307-8105;
rich_davidson@ci.richmond.ca.us

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy thanks the Coastal Conservancy and the Firedoll Foundation for their support of our work on this project.