2/12/2012 From the City Manager's report
San Francisco Bay Trail Connection, Castro Street to Point Molate Community Meeting The City of Richmond’s Engineering Services Department hosted a successful community meeting on the evening of December 1st to inform community members about the planned San Francisco Bay Trail Connection from Castro Street to Point Molate, and to gather public input on trail alternatives.  The meeting was attended by approximately 45 people, including City Councilmember Tom Butt, District Representative Nathan Rapp from the Office of State Senator Loni Hancock, and representatives from the Association of Bay Area Governments’ (ABAG) Bay Trail, Richmond Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (RBPAC), Trails for Richmond Action Committee (TRAC), and Chevron.  A presentation on the selection process for the recommended trail alternative was given by Questa Engineering Corporation of Richmond.  The recommended trail alternative received broad support from members of the community, in addition to representatives from ABAG, RBPAC, and TRAC, with many in attendance posing excellent questions and commentary. The presentation slides can be found online here >>

Staff is planning to present the Draft Architecture and Engineering Report on the planned trail to the Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the city’s Design Review Board.  The Final Architectural and Engineering Report will be presented to the City Council during the early part of 2012.  Upon city approval, the project will move into the environmental review and final design phase through the Caltrans approval process.  Staff will pursue federal and state funding sources to cover an anticipated cost of $15 to $20 million.

The planned trail connection will provide safe, convenient, and inviting access for bicyclists and pedestrians to the Point San Pablo Peninsula and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge by closing a gap in the Bay Trail from Castro Street in Point Richmond to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Toll Plaza.  The project would correct an access deficiency in the state transportation system, and facilitate zero-emissions commuting to and from the Point San Pablo Peninsula, and eventually across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.  The project would also enhance water-oriented recreational opportunities for residents and visitors by providing bicycle and pedestrian access to the bay shoreline along the Point San Pablo Peninsula.  The project would complement land use development throughout the Point San Pablo Peninsula by providing low-cost commute alternatives, and by connecting the peninsula with City of Richmond greenways, parks, and shoreline developments.

A route for the Bay Trail connection across I-580 to the Point Molate and the San Pablo Peninsula is close to adoption. What is remaining is the $15 million to build it and some cooperation and funding from Caltrans.

The City Council will be taking up the issue of what Caltrans calls the I-580 Schofield Avenue and Western Drive Bridge Deck Replacements. See:

• 11-Mile Detour Plan Draws Criticism in Richmond, November 29, 2011
• Western Drive Detour Plan Draws Ire in Richmond, November 28, 2011
• CalTrans May Close an I-580 Ramp in Richmond For Years, November 27, 2011
• CalTrans to Close Richmond San Rafael On-Ramp for Two Years, November 25, 2011

Caltrans, whose Mission Statement is “Caltrans Improves Mobility Across California,” has been remarkably disinterested of late in mobility in Richmond, and should be encouraged to not only rethink the proposed 11-mile detour proposed for the I-580 Schofield Avenue and Western Drive Bridge Deck Replacements Project but also to both engage in and help fund the Bay Trail connection across I-580 to the Point Molate and the San Pablo Peninsula.