Hernandez-Thorpe claims assurances to keep Antioch Amtrak station open but closure decision not changed
Wednesday, September 18th, 2024
Will present City’s plan to SJJPA Board of Directors during Friday morning meeting in Martinez
SJJPA staff says “discussion…does not alter the SJJPA board decision” to decommission station
By Allen D. Payton
As previously reported, last year, the Board of Directors of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority which oversees the operation of the Amtrak line that runs to and through Antioch voted to decommission the station. Last week, Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe posted an announcement on his campaign website that he had found a “Path Forward to Keep Antioch Amtrak Station Open” following a September 9th meeting with the chair and member of the board. However, SJJPA spokesman David Lippari said the “discussion…does not alter the SJJPA board decision” last year to decommission the station.
The announcement reads, “After a great meeting with the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC), I’m happy to announce that the Authority and Commission have assured me that we are now on a path to keeping the Antioch Amtrak station open.
Although I am optimistic, we must continue to support keeping the station open. I want to thank SJJPA Chair Pat Hume and SJRRC Chair Nancy Young for visiting the Antioch station yesterday and meeting with city staff and me regarding this important matter.
My office and city staff will develop a plan that I will present to the SJJPA on September 20, 2024, and to the City Council in early October.”
Questions for Mayor, Acting City Manager and SJJPA Staff
Questions were sent to both the mayor and Acting City Manager Kwame Reed about the meeting and for details of the proposed plan asking. They were asked which city staff members were in the meeting and what assurances were given by Directors Hume and Young.
Neither the mayor nor Reed responded prior to publication time.
SJJPA staff were also asked to verify what the mayor shared and for the details of the assurances provided by the board members.
SJJPA Says No Change to Station Closure Plans
In response, Lipari, the SJJPA’s Director of Passenger Experience and Communications, provided the following “statement related to ongoing discussions with the city of Antioch: The SJJPA and the City of Antioch had a recent discussion regarding the future of the Antioch Station. The discussion, which included some members of the SJJPA board leadership and executive team, does not alter the SJJPA board decision but was focused on topics of safety at and around the station. An information item regarding the Antioch Station has been agendized for the SJJPA board meeting on September 20, 2024.”
The agenda item is number 5, listed as Information and entitled, “Antioch Station History and Update”, which will be provided by SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen.
That information was provided to the mayor and Reed in a further effort asking them to provide what assurances they were given about keeping the station open during last week’s meeting.
The joint powers authority Board of Directors meeting will be held this Friday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Contra Costa County Administration Building in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1025 Escobar Street in Martinez. The public will have the opportunity to speak. See the complete meeting agenda packet. To watch the meeting via Zoom, please see instructions, here: SJJPA September 20, 2024 Board Meeting – San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority.
In July, the Antioch City Council voted to adopt a resolution and send a letter to the SJJPA Board opposing the station closure. Friday will be the first opportunity to hear from the board members following receipt of the Council’s letter and for them to hear from the public since their vote to decommission the station and to discuss the City’s proposal to keep it open.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
