Commonwealth Courts Building Project (language only)

Item 4-5.10 #1h

Language

Page 631, after line 20, insert:

"c. Pursuant to projects authorized and funded by Item C-1.30, Chapter 552, 2021 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I and amended by Item C-2, Chapter 1, 2023 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, and Item C-2 of Chapter 725 of the 2025 Acts of Assembly, Virginia Acts of Assembly, the General Assembly appropriated funds to the Department of General Services (DGS) for planning, demolition, working drawings, and site preparation: Commonwealth Courts Building (Project 18537). Project work includes improvements and safety and security enhancements to be constructed or installed within the sidewalk areas lying within the northern portion of the right-of-way of East Main Street (between North 9th Street and North 10th Street), within the eastern portion of North 9th Street (between East Main Street and Bank Street), which rights-of-way are owned by the City of Richmond (City), and more specifically as determined by the DGS project team and in collaboration with the City with respect to such rights-of-way. Accordingly, the City and DGS shall enter into a deed of easement or other proper instruments, in such form approved by the Offices of the City Attorney and of the Commonwealth Office of the Attorney General, whereby the City, without charge to the Commonwealth, shall grant to DGS, as agent of the Commonwealth, where mutually agreeable across, over, under and above the referenced right-of-way of East Main Street and North 9th Street, (a) the perpetual and irrevocable right, privilege and easement to construct, install, use, operate, inspect, maintain, repair, replace, rebuild, improve, alter and remove (i) any construction or installation contracted for by DGS either as part of the referenced construction projects or at any time with respect to safety and security enhancements around the perimeter of Capitol Square deemed appropriate by DGS and (ii) all equipment, accessories, utilities and appurtenances necessary to support such construction projects and such incorporation of safety and security enhancements, (b) the perpetual and irrevocable right, privilege and easement to inspect, maintain, repair, replace and rebuild the sidewalks and elements thereof (but not traffic control devices and signage or street lighting located thereupon) of the referenced right-of-way of East Main Street and North 9th Street, and (c) any necessary or appropriate temporary construction easements, upon terms approved by the Mayor of Richmond and the Governor (pursuant to § 2.2-1149, Code of Virginia); approval by Richmond City Council shall not be required.

2. The City, without expending City funds, shall cooperate with DGS (i) to support the referenced construction project work and incorporation of safety and security enhancements at and along East Main Street and North 9th Street, (ii) to relocate any utilities located in the agreed upon easement area, if necessary, and (iii) to coordinate any closure or other traffic flow controls of East Main Street and North 9th Street during the performance of the construction projects and the incorporation of any safety and security features that will enhance safety and security around the perimeter of Capitol Square. At no time shall DGS make any permanent changes to the East Main Street or North 9th Street rights-of-way without the prior approval of the Chief Administrative Officer of the City or the City hinder or delay construction of the referenced construction projects. Notwithstanding the foregoing, DGS may commence the construction project work and safety and security enhancements within the referenced right-of-way of East Main Street and North 9th Street prior to the execution of a deed of easement or other proper instruments, if deemed necessary by DGS to avoid delay in the implementation of the construction project work or safety and security enhancements."