Richmond Rising reports progress: trails, electric bikes, solar workshops, tree planting and workforce training

Richmond Rising staff and partner organizations gave a consolidated status update across active TCC-funded projects, reporting budgets, timelines, outreach and near-term workplans.

Neighborhood Complete Streets and Richmond Wellness Trail: staff reported a Reconnecting Communities Pilot award of $9,500,000 and continued coordination with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for approximately $10,000,000 in Regional Measure 3 funds. Updated cost estimates and design coordination with city departments, AC Transit and railroad partners were reported; staff said they will submit the Regional Measure 3 staff report and request a legal opinion for city council acceptance.

E‑bike lending library and e‑bike share: Rich City Rides reported continued outreach (including the Electric Transformation Fair), youth fellow participation, and community trainings. The city has installed eight bike hubs with about 70 bikes available; operations and maintenance are now in place and staff provided an on-site project manager to answer sign-up and app questions.

Resilient Homes (solar and energy efficiency): project leads planned workshops (Nov. 12 at City Hall and Dec. 10 at Nevin Community Center) and coordinated with Rich City Rides for outreach and community fellow participation.

Basins of Relations and green infrastructure: the workforce training program is training 10 young adult apprentices through December and completed multiple native plantings and drip irrigation installations for Iron Triangle homeowners. Groundwork Richmond reported the planting of more than 40 trees along the Richmond Greenway and adoption of a new site called The Grove; the organization also began a year-long workforce cohort.

Community garden, orchard and food programs: the Universally Accessible Community Garden received permits and was put out to bid; Orchard For All distributed dozens of fruit trees at community farm stands and serviced local trees; VeggieRx created climate-friendly diet curriculum and hosted workshops at residential care sites.

Climate health promoters and workforce development: Lifelong and partners said a fourth cohort of Climate Health Promoters began and staff reported 30 participants; the program will attend local events and hold upcoming workshops. The city is coordinating expanded workforce program deliverables with the Strategic Growth Council.

Budget snapshots and next steps: presenters listed cumulative expenditures and remaining budgets for each program (examples: Richmond Rising central expenditures ~ $393,000 with ~$300,000 remaining; Resilient Homes expenditures ~$966,000 with ~$6,000,000 remaining; UC Berkeley reported indicator-tracking expenditures and draft reporting timelines). Teams said near-term work will focus on community outreach, submitting required reports and procurement tasks and preparing workshops and construction bidding for garden and trail projects.

Sources: consolidated project updates from Richmond Rising staff and partners at the stakeholder meeting (start 01:21:47).