title
To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the total amount of $4,388,200.00 from the Virginia Department of Transportation and to amend Ord. No. 2025-058 adopted May 12, 2025, which accepted a program of proposed Capital Improvements Projects for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and the four fiscal years thereafter, adopted a Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, and determined a means of financing the same, by (i) establishing a new project for the Department of Public Works in the Transportation category called the “Fall Line Trail (FLT) – Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail” project and (ii) increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the new Department of Public Works’ “Fall Line Trail (FLT) – Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail” project in the Transportation category by $4,388,200.00, for the purpose of providing funding for the Fall Line Trail Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail project.
body
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, is authorized to accept funds in the total amount of $4,388,200 from the Virginia Department of Transportation for the purpose of providing funding for the Fall Line Trail Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail project.
§ 2. That Ordinance No. 2025-058, adopted May 12, 2025, which accepted a program of proposed Capital Improvement Projects for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and the four fiscal years thereafter, adopted a Capital Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and determined a means of financing the same, be and is hereby amended by establishing a new project for the Department of Public Works in the Transportation category called the “Fall Line Trail (FLT) – Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail” for the purpose of providing funding for the Fall Line Trail Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail project.
§ 3 That Ordinance No. 2025-058, adopted May 12, 2025, which accepted a program of proposed Capital Improvements Projects for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and the four fiscal years thereafter, adopted a Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, and determined a means of financing the same, be and is hereby amended by increasing the estimated revenues and the amount appropriated for expenditures by $4,388,200.00, and allotting to the Department of Public Works’ “Fall Line Trail (FLT) – Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail” project in the Transportation category by $4,388,200.00 for the purpose of providing funding for the Fall Line Trail Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail project.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
City of Richmond
Intracity Correspondence
DATE: July 22, 2025 EDITION: 1
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Rene M. Almaraz, Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Meghan K. Brown, Director of Budget & Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Bobby Vincent, Director of Public Works
FROM: M. S. Khara, P.E., City Engineer
RE: TO AMEND THE FY 2026 ADOPTED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM BUDGET AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (VDOT) IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,388,200, FOR THE “FALL LINE TRAIL (FLT) -KANAWHA PLAZA MULTI USE TRAIL” PROJECT (AWARD NEW) (UPC #126511).
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To amend Ord. No.2025-058 adopted May 12, 2025, which adopted the Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2026 by creating a new project called the Fall Line Trail (FLT) – Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail, and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $4,388,200 from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and appropriate the revenues to the FY2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget for the “Fall Line Trail (FLT) – Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail” project (Award New)(UPC #126511).
BACKGROUND: The Fall Line Trail (FLT) is an approximately 43.6 Mile of paved multi – use trail currently under development from a northern terminus in Ashland, Virginia to a Southern terminus in Petersburg, Virginia. The trail has developed as a collaborative effort in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the seven localities and other stakeholders. From Ashland to Petersburg, the Fall Line alignment will provide a connection to the areas of significant historical and cultural impact through the Central Virginia.
This project will provide:
- multimodal safety operational improvement to the 0.6 miles of shared used path through the Kanawha Plaza site as a trail head for users of the FLT with a minimum of 10FT wide asphalt paved multi-use path.
- Provide for the construction of curb and gutter, ADA accessible ramp improvements, pedestrian crossing improvements, access management, signal modifications, and other streetscape amenities to collectively improve transportation, land use, and health over a public active transportation network.
- Satisfy Segment 5A-R of the Fall Line Trail heading South from South 7th St. and East Canal St. through Kanawha Plaza to South 9th St. and East Byrd St., following the preferred corridor as identified in VDOT’s Ashland to Petersburg trail study.
The estimated total project cost is $4,500,000 for this segment 5A-R. State has approved the State funding thru FY25/FY26 budget process. The breakdown equates to non-reimbursable VDOT administrative cost $161,800, and reimbursable state funds to the City for design and construction cost in the amount of $4,388,200.
The project design will go through the City Planning Commission and Public Hearing process. The project preliminary design will be shared with the public for their inputs.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: This project has been discussed as a part of VDOT’s Ashland and Petersburg Study conducted since 2019. A public meeting was held on September 19th, 2022, 6:30-8:00pm at Linwood Holton Elementary School. The Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility also published this project in Richmond’s Fall Line Trail Public Engagement as a level one project that required public outreach with key stakeholders. There will be additional public hearing/engagements that will be through the City Planning Commission (CPC) meeting on this Ordinance request.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: This project conforms to Goal 8-Equitable Transportation in the Richmond 300 master plan by expanding and improving walking and biking infrastructure.
City Planning Commission (CPC) will review and approve the Ordinance request.
FISCAL IMPACT: The FY2026-FY2030 CIP budget will be amended to accept and appropriate $ 4,388,200.00 funds from VDOT to the Capital Budget in Transportation category for NEW ‘FLT-Kanawha Plaza Multi Use Trail’ project. $4,338,200 will be reimbursable to the City. City matching funds are not required.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 8, 2025
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 22, 2025
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent Agenda
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: None
CONSIDERATION BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES: City Planning Commission
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Public Works, Law Department, Department of Park, Recreation & Community Facilities, Planning & Community Development, Economic Development, Finance Department, Budget and Strategic Planning. Copies also sent to: City Mayor (Dr. Danny Avula); Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (Rene M. Almaraz) and City Attorney (2)
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.:
- Ord. No.2025-058 adopted May 12, 2025 (Adopt a Capital Budget for FY26-FY30)
ATTACHMENTS:
- Kanawha Plaza FLT- Adopted VDOT Six-Year Improvements Program
- Standard City/State Agreement – FLT- Kanawha Plaza Multi use Trail project
(UPC #126511)
STAFF: M. S. Khara, P.E., City Engineer, 646-5413
Lamont L. Benjamin, P.E., Capital Project Administrator, 646-6339
Yongping Wang, P.E. Project Manager, 646-2467