The following first quarter update on the bay Trail has been provided by TRAC (Trails for Richmond Action Committee):

Since TRAC, the Trails for Richmond Action Committee, will be celebrating its fifth anniversary this July, it seems appropriate to begin this first quarter Richmond Bay Trail report by highlighting the value of the Bay Trail.  The Bay Trail offers free, convenient opportunities for recreation, exercise and transportation, as well as a scenic, refreshing refuge from the daily pressures of urban life.  Everyone has the opportunity to connect with San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, which are the defining features of the Bay Area.  People of every ethnic group, economic means and age share the Bay Trail.  It's accessible to all from babies in strollers to older folk who may be physically impaired.  The Bay Trail is for all generations and represents a legacy for future generations to enjoy.  TRAC knows about generations.  Spanning more than two generations, TRAC Steering Committee members have both children and grandchildren who are less than one year old.

This First Quarter 2004 report summarizes Bay Trail progress since publication of the Richmond Bay Trail New Year Report in early January.  See http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/trac/ for the current map showing completed and planned portions of Richmond's Bay Trail.

Richmond has 20 miles of Bay Trail built and under construction.  The challenge is to complete the remaining 20 miles of planned Bay Trail.  Both the City of Richmond and East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) are developing plans to fill gaps using planning grants primarily from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Bay Trail Project.  As described below, TRAC has obtained new construction grants this quarter from California Department of Boating and Waterways, West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD).

TRAC's New Year Report pointed out that private sector cooperation is essential for completing Richmond's Bay Trail.  Special thanks go to the following economic enterprises which helped significantly during the first quarter:
-- Richmond Boat Works for great help in reopening Boat Ramp Street to public access
-- Port of Richmond for plans to provide Bay Trail access to the shoreline of Point Potrero Terminal
-- Toll Brothers, Inc. for building new Bay Trail as part of the Seacliff Estates residential project and funding creation of interpretive panels
-- ChevronTexaco for cooperating with the Point San Pablo Peninsula Open Space study
-- Point Richmond Business Association for funding reopening of Boat Ramp Street

Please read on to learn about important advances made during the first quarter and the coming Contra Costa County Open Space ballot measure, which will help fund new shoreline access and Bay Trail projects.

For additional information, contact:

Bruce Beyaert, TRAC Chair
Nancy Strauch and David Dolberg, TRAC Vice Chairs
Phone/Fax 510-235-2835
Email: tracbaytrail@earthlink.net
Web: official site: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/trac/
unofficial site:  http://www.pointrichmond.com/baytrails/

Southern Shoreline  

Lost in Marina Bay -- Not!
Nine new way finding map panels have been installed along the Bay Trail throughout Marina Bay between Lucretia Edwards Park and Meeker Slough where the trail leads east to Point Isabel.  The maps were designed for TRAC by ABAG's Bay Trail Project staff.  Funding for the panels came from the BAAQMD's Transportation Funds for Clean Air program thanks to WCCTAC.

Boat Ramp Street (off Cutting Blvd. east of Canal Blvd.)
As recently as the 1960's, Boat Ramp Street represented Richmond's only public access to the shoreline.  Now it has been reopened for public access to the Santa Fe Channel, including hand launching of car top boats such as canoes and kayaks.  (Automobile access is not allowed to launch trailered boats.)  Richmond Boat Works reconfigured its boat yard, and TRAC contracted to have a fence erected between the boat yard and the launching facility with the fence blocking access to the site removed.  TRAC thanks the Point Richmond Business Association, Albion Marine and BCDC for funding the new fencing.   TRAC recently obtained a $51,400 grant from the State Department of Boating and Waterways for the City of Richmond to construct public access improvements at Boat Ramp Street.

Seacliff Estates Residential Project
Toll Brothers, Inc. is building Seacliff Drive with a Class I (off road) Bay Trail over the ridge to connect Canal Blvd. and Brickyard Cove Rd.   However, due to construction activities, this new Bay Trail segment will not be safe for public use until this fall.  The Class I Bay Trail passing by new model homes along Brickyard Cove Road should be open sooner.  TRAC will let you know when these new trail segments are safe to use.  Toll Brothers also is collaborating with TRAC by funding creation of ten interpretive and wayfinding exhibit panels to be installed along the new trail route.

Point Potrero Terminal
The Port of Richmond cooperated with TRAC and ABAG to integrate a new Bay Trail segment into plans for a perimeter road around the new Hyundai/Kia auto import operation at Point Potrero Terminal.  This Bay Trail route will lead from the port entrance at the end of Canal Blvd. to the port's southern shoreline and a viewing area near the western graving dock of historic Kaiser Shipyard 3. This represents an important first step in providing Bay Trail access to Shipyard 3 sites included in the Rosie The Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park.

Ferry Point Tunnel
Richmond's AN West Inc. is completing construction design and bid documents for doubling the width of the four-foot Bay Trail leading through the Ferry Point Tunnel to Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline.  This design work was funded by ABAG and managed by the City of Richmond.

Point San Pablo Peninsula