Identifies victim, asks Antioch council to take action, says they were warned of dangers; police ID suspect; 4 councilmembers, city staff offer no responses to organization, questions

By Allen D. Payton

Following the death of an Antioch cyclist in a collision caused by a drunk driver on Lone Tree Way on Saturday, July 27, 2024, Bike East Bay Bicycle, on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, called it “preventable” and announced a statement sent in a letter to the city council asking for action to “mitigate the ongoing dangers”. The letter also identified the victim as “a 29-year-old mother of 2 named Linda Woolridge.”

As previously reported, according to Antioch Police, the 38-year-old male driver from Antioch, “was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing serious bodily injury or death.” The six-foot tall, 205-pound Hispanic suspect is identified as Alexander Mayorga, born June 29, 1986.

According to Antioch Police Lt. Desmond Bittner, he was arrested and then released pending the results of the toxicology report. Then once we get those back the case will be submitted to the DA’s Office who will determine if charges will be filed against him.”

Asked how long it will take for report to be received Bittner said, “I’m told it’s four to six weeks for the toxicology report. But it depends on the case. For a felony DUI case they could possibly get it expedited.” The case # is 24-006570.

A post on the group’s Facebook page asks the public to join them in their effort writing, “This week Linda Woolridge was struck and killed by a drunk driver while she was biking on Lone Tree Way in Antioch. Linda was a mother of 2, and the 11th person killed on this corridor since it was increased from 4 to 6 lanes in 2018.
We are devastated by all of these preventable tragedies. Please join us in writing Antioch City Council at cityclerk@antiochca.gov ahead of their August 13 meeting, to ask that they coordinate with Bike East Bay on near-term safety mitigations for the corridor.

Read our full statement at the link in our bio.”

The statement signed by Robert Prinz, the organization’s Advocacy Director, says widening Lone Tree Way from four lanes to six lanes in 2018 “was a mistake”, although the road was designed and built to accommodate the additional lanes. They also reminded the council that they and city staff were warned by their members and an Antioch resident about the dangers of eliminating the bicycle only lanes for shared lanes with vehicles before the lanes were added.

However, the organization’s statement acknowledges the “response provided by the city traffic engineer…was as follows: ‘Much thought has been given to the decision to follow the general plan and stripe three lanes along Lone Tree Way (in each direction). This project has been in the works for many years with the Mokelumne Trail being the preferred bike route adjacent to this roadway. Shared bike lanes are also being provided in accordance with the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices to provide riders options to use the roadway.’”

The coalition wants the council “to request that staff coordinate with Bike East Bay and the Antioch Parks & Recreation Commission, which currently serves as Antioch’s bike/walk committee, to develop a rapid response, near term safety project for Lone Tree Way and mitigate the ongoing dangers on that corridor.

This project should be informed by countermeasures from the Local Road Safety Plan, as well as Caltrans’ 2024 Complete Streets Contextual Design Guidance.

We also request that you initiate an Antioch bike/walk planning effort, the city’s first and separate from the Contra Costa Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. City Council should form a dedicated bike/walk commission to help provide community oversight on plan development and implementation.”

See East Bay Bike’s statement in letter to the Antioch City Council

Questions for City Council, Staff Go Unanswered

City council and staff members were asked if they had responded to the organization and, if so, to provide a copy. They were also asked if the council or city staff have any plans to take any action, or if they are already doing something to address Bike East Bay’s concerns.

Only District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock responded writing, “I have not reached out to them. I know I questioned how the cyclist would be able to ride on the roadway and cannot for the life of me remember how I voted.  I know I was concerned about the safety.”

That’s because there was no specific vote on the restriping of Lone Tree Way to six lanes. The comment made by a resident mentioned in the coalition’s statement was made during general Public Comments at the council meeting on Nov. 27, 2018, which was shown incorrectly as Nov. 26.

Statement Author Says “This is a Broader Safety Issue”

“It was never agendized,” Prinz stated when asked about the date of the council vote and correct meeting date the comment was made. “It was part of a larger paving project in either 2017 or 2018.”

“It’s not just a bike safety issue. This is a broader safety issue,” he added, which mirrors the list of incidents mentioned in his letter.  

“Since then, 11 people have been killed in crashes on Lone Tree Way, many of them related to speeding,” Prinze wrote. “These people included Elijah Holland, an 11-year-old Antioch resident who was crossing the street on foot when he was hit and killed by a driver in 2020 and 20-year-old Angela Fierro, a pregnant mother who was killed while riding in the passenger seat of a vehicle involved in a high-speed crash with another driver.”

“Another 21 individuals have been seriously injured in crashes since the 6-lane configuration was installed, many of whose lives are forever altered via pain and disability,” he added to support his point.

“As to plans, it would have to be part of the next council meeting, which I will reach out to Kwame to see if we can add,” the councilwoman wrote.

Additional attempts to reach Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Acting Assistant City Manager and Recreation Director Brad Helfenberger for a response were unsuccessful prior to publication time.

A GoFundMe account was set up for Woolridge, but it can no longer be found on the site.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Pass2Class offers free bus passes to Contra Costa students at the beginning of the school year to encourage the use of bus transportation to and from school. Pass2Class reduces traffic congestion and air pollution by reducing the number of cars being driven to school.

The 2024 program offers free County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, WestCAT, or AC Transit bus passes for up to two (2) students per household for up to two months. Learn more at https://511contracosta.org/schools/pass2class-program/

Free museums – Free transportation to get there!

Contra Costa County Library is once again offering free Clipper cards for use with Discover & Go reservations from August 1 while supplies last. The offer is good for select Discover & Go attractions. County residents, who are 18 or older, can submit a request for Clipper cards by clicking on the banner ad on their Discover & Go pass starting August 1.

To sign-up for Clipper cards, view your August – December 2024 reservation on your Discover & Go account:

1. Click the “Print/Download” button
2. Click on the “Free transit passes” banner on your Discover & Go pass to request your Clipper cards. The banner will look like this: 

Clipper cards will be mailed to cardholders’ homes approximately five business days prior to their museum visit. The offer is limited to one request per household (for up to two $20 Clipper cards) and is available while supplies last. This promotion is a partnership between 511 Contra Costa and the Library and is intended to encourage the use of public transportation to visit museums.

“There is no better way to enjoy cultural venues, museums and fun attractions around the Bay Area than Discover & Go,” said County Librarian Alison McKee. “Thanks to 511 Contra Costa you can use public transportation to get there.”

Since its inception in 2011, Discover & Go has met Contra Costa County Library’s goal of providing access to culture inside and outside the library by partnering with over 100 California cultural destinations, and making over 1,000,000 visits possible for library cardholders.

511 Contra Costa is a comprehensive Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program that promotes transportation alternatives to the single occupant vehicle and encourages “green commutes”.  For more information, visit 511contracosta.org.

The following attractions qualify as destinations for this Clipper card promotion.

Ardenwood Historic Farm                  Pacific Pinball Museum

Asian Art Museum                              Peralta Hacienda Museum

Bay Area Discovery Museum             Richmond Museum of History

Beat Museum                                      Ruth Bancroft Garden

Bedford Gallery                                  San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

California Academy of Sciences        San Francisco Symphony

Cartoon Art Museum                          San Jose Museum of Art

Contemporary Jewish Museum          San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles  

de Young Museum                              Shadelands Ranch

Exploratorium                                     Smuin Modern Ballet (San Francisco)

Freight & Salvage (Berkeley)             UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive

Legion of Honor                                 UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens

Lindsay Wildlife Experience              The Tech Interactive

Oakland Museum of California          Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum

For additional information about this promotion, you can contactthe Contra Costa County Library at ccclib.org/contact-us.   

Resolution doesn’t mention former city manager’s name

Will consider approving $340K for another year of the 2024-25 Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program; potential creation of a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Officer position

Proclamation recognizing Antioch-Chichibu Sister City delegation from Japan

By Allen D. Payton

Sixteen months after the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors voted to decommission the Antioch Amtrak station, during their meeting on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Antioch City Council will consider approving a resolution to send a message opposing the closure. It’s almost two years after then-City Manager Con Johnson learned of the proposed closure from SJJPA staff and in turn informed Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe.

In spite of the mayor saying at the end of the last council meeting he wanted to include the name of former city manager Ron Bernal, who Hernandez-Thorpe has repeatedly accused of approving the closure which Bernal denies and has been proven false through public records, the mayor’s opponent in the November election is not named in the resolution. (See related article)

According to the City staff report on the item (#9 on the agenda), “The Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop began providing service to the east Contra Costa County region in Antioch on October 28, 1994. The Stop is served by the San Joaquins line that operates passenger rail service between Oakland and Bakersfield.

According to ridership data, the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop has provided approximately 106,000 on-boards and 118,200 off-boards between July 2016 and January of 2024. This equates to a daily average of 82 combined boarding types.

The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority was established after the passage of Assembly Bill 1779 on August 30, 2012. This bill enabled local and regional agencies the ability to protect the San Joaquins rail service throughout the region.

On March 24, 2023, the SJJPA voted to decommission the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station). The decision to decommission the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) did not have a comprehensive community engagement process nor an analysis concerning the impacts of their decision.

The decommissioning of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) will have an immediate negative impact on the local disadvantaged community which include low-income people of color, seniors, veterans, and small businesses that rely on the station.”

Following is the resolution of opposition prepared for discussion and adoption by the city council:

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANTIOCH OPPOSING THE DECOMMISSIONING OF THE ANTIOCH-PITTSBURG SAN JOAQUINS PASSENGER STOP (AMTRAK STATION) IN ANTIOCH

WHEREAS, the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) in Antioch, CA, has been a vital transportation hub for residents and visitors, providing essential connectivity to regional and national destinations since it;

WHEREAS, the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) has provided approximately 106,000 on-boardings and 118,200 off-boardings between July 2016 and January 2024 that equates to a daily average of 82 combined boardings;

WHEREAS, the City of Antioch is committed to maintaining and enhancing its transportation infrastructure to ensure the mobility, safety, and well-being of its residents and to support the City’s economic vitality and quality of life;

WHEREAS, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority was established after AB 1779 was passed by the State Legislature on August 30, 2012, to enable local and regional agencies to protect the San Joaquin Rail Service throughout the San Joaquin Corridor;

WHEREAS, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority voted to decommission the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) on March 24, 2023, at Robert J. Cabral Station South Hall Meeting Room 949 East Channel Street Stockton, CA 95202 without providing official notice to the City government or people of Antioch;

WHEREAS, the decision to decommission the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) did not have a comprehensive community engagement process nor an analysis concerning the impacts of the closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) on riders who utilize the station to travel to and from the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station);

WHEREAS, the decommissioning of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) will have an immediate negative impact on the local disadvantaged communities which include low-income people of color, seniors, veterans, and small businesses that rely on the station;

WHEREAS, the closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) would adversely affect the quality of life in Antioch; and

WHEREAS, the decommissioning of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) impacts the City of Antioch and other regional municipalities from accessing state funding that is associated with having a transportation corridor.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Antioch, California, hereby opposes the closing of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) in Antioch and urges Amtrak, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, and relevant stakeholders to explore all possible alternatives to keep the station open and operational.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Antioch calls upon federal, state, and local officials to join in opposition to the closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) and to advocate for the continued operation and investment in this critical transportation asset.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution will be transmitted to the Governor of California, members of the California State Legislature, the United States Congress, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, and other relevant parties to underscore the City of Antioch’s strong opposition to the closing of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station), protest the decision of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority to close the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station), and call on the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority to not eliminate regular service to the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) but rather operate both the Oakley and Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station).

Proclamation Recognizing Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Delegation from Japan

At the beginning of the meeting, the council will vote to adopt a Proclamation in Honor of Welcoming the Visiting Delegation from Antioch’s Sister City of Chichibu, Saitama, Japan. The group of 14, including 10 students and four adults, will stay with local host families while here for a 10-day tour.

Will Consider Approving $340,000 for the 2024-25 Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program

On the Consent Calendar, item K., the council will consider authorizing the Acting City Manager or designee to execute an agreement with Rubicon Programs to provide professional services from September 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025, for an amount not to exceed $340,000 for the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program.

According to the city staff report, the program “began as a pilot initiative in November 2022 and has completed its first two cohorts…recruited young adults ages 18-26 and employed 20 underemployed, underserved and underestimated participants who faced multiple barriers, including justice involvement, homelessness and the foster care system. Participants underwent 60 hours of workforce development training before placement…(and) ongoing professional development…throughout their part-time employment. Participants were placed in the Public Works Department of the City of Antioch to practice, learn and hone skills that would equip the for future employment.”

Potential Creation of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Officer Position

At District 1 Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker’s request the council will consider the potential creation of a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Officer position under agenda item #10. No information about the proposed position is provided in the city staff report including its purpose, in what department it would be placed and who the person would answer to. The report only shows, “The recommended action has no fiscal impact at this time.” But if the position is created, a salary and benefits package will be developed for it.

Across the country, government agencies, universities and businesses have been either cutting back or completely abandoning their DEI efforts due to significant backlash and the passage of new state laws according to a May 2024 report by Forbes.

According to an article on The Wharton School website, “Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that began during the racial reckoning of 2020, when the murder of George Floyd renewed demands for social justice, are being pulled apart by political and cultural shifts,” and “more than 30 states have introduced laws banning or limiting DEI initiatives, and many companies are cutting their DEI teams.”

At a time the city council members are 60% Black even though according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Black residents make up only 19.5% of the  city’s population as of July 1, 2023, and the city staff has included two Black police chiefs, one permanent, one interim, a Black city attorney, two Black city managers, one permanent and the current one acting, and the Director of the Human Relations Department is an Hispanic woman, people are wondering why the position is even necessary.

The council is being asked to discuss the proposal and offer direction to staff.

The council meeting begins with a Closed Session at 6:00 p.m. in which includes conference with legal counsel on a lawsuit against the city, real property negotiation for the sale of the building at 275 W. Tregallas Road across from the Antioch Main Post Office that currently houses the Delta Learning Center, and the Public Employment – Recruitment of the City Manager.

Regular Session begins at 7:00 p.m. Council meetings can be watched livestream on the City’s website, on Comcast local cable channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99, or in person inside the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street in historic, downtown Rivertown.

See the complete council meeting agenda packet.

BART continued in 2023 to pioneer sustainability initiatives aimed at enhancing rider experience while prioritizing environmental stewardship. With a legacy rooted in forward-thinking transportation solutions, BART reaffirmed its commitment to reducing carbon footprints and advancing sustainable transit practices. The accomplishments of 2023 are detailed in the annual Sustainability Report, officially presented to the Board of Directors on July 11, 2024. 

“BART’s sustainability efforts were all about innovation in 2023,” said BART Board President Bevan Dufty. “We are dedicated to integrating creative solutions that not only improve the rider experience, our immediate priority, but also emphasize long-term sustainability.”

Established over fifty years ago with a vision to alleviate regional traffic congestion through eco-friendly transit options, BART has continually evolved its practices to reflect contemporary environmental standards. Notably, engineers initially opted to power trains with electricity rather than fuel, a decision that laid the foundation for ongoing sustainability achievements. 

In a poignant farewell to its legacy fleet, BART hosted a memorable “retirement party” in February 2024, marking the culmination of efforts to retire older vehicles. Thousands of attendees gathered to bid farewell to the trains that had served millions of passengers over the years. The decommissioned cars are being repurposed for various projects, including a BART car short-term rental in the Sierra Nevada and a youth bike shop and clubhouse in East Oakland, demonstrating BART’s commitment to sustainability beyond transit operations. 

The introduction of new, energy-efficient train cars has furthered BART’s sustainability goals, boasting a 7% reduction in energy consumption compared to previous train car models. By running shorter trains during off-peak hours, BART has achieved significant energy savings. 88% of BART’s electricity comes from greenhouse gas-free sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. 

“Our shorter trains not only save energy and reduce costs but also enhance safety and efficiency in maintenance,” BART General Manager Bob Powers added. “These innovations underscore our holistic approach to sustainability across all facets of our operations.”

In addition to transit improvements, BART expanded its Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) program, constructing 531 new housing units near BART stations. Projects like the Gateway at Millbrae Station and the Upper Yard at Balboa Park Station not only address regional housing needs but also promote sustainable urban development and economic revitalization. 

Highlighting unique environmental initiatives, BART’s Sheep and Goat Fire Mitigation program has grown substantially, utilizing over 500 grazers to mitigate fire risks across its properties. Meanwhile, the Falconry-Based Nuisance Bird Control program, now implemented at 12 stations, effectively manages pigeon populations through pesticide-free methods. 

For more information on BART’s sustainability initiatives and ongoing projects, visit bart.gov/sustainability. 

“Demonstrates continued progress toward key plan goals” of housing, transportation, economy and environment in the nine counties including “a gradual shift away from the use of single-occupancy cars and trucks.”

Includes over $1.2 trillion to maintain existing transportation system, build and buy affordable housing, “Provide an income-based monthly payment to all Bay Area households” and to “Adapt to Sea Level Rise.”

Also working on parallel Transit 2050+ plan

Public input opportunities

By MTC & ABAG staff

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)’s and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)’s newly released Plan Bay Area 2050+ Draft Blueprint analysis outlines how the nine-county region can advance an affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant Bay Area for all residents by the year 2050. 

The Blueprint is essentially a draft version of the plan. It is a foundational framework for a future vision of the Bay Area that includes: 

• Forecasts and Assumptions about the Bay Area’s future (population, jobs, financial needs and revenues, sea level rise, etc.);
• Strategies for public investment and policy reform; and
• Geographies where future housing and/or job growth can be focused under the plan’s Strategies.

The Blueprint is then analyzed through computer-generated models and simulations to measure how successful the strategies are in achieving shared goals for the future, such as housing affordability, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and much more.

As the first draft of the Bay Area’s next long-range plan, the Draft Blueprint demonstrates significant progress toward reaching key goals for housing affordability, post-pandemic economic recovery and environmental health and sustainability. This includes the addition of 840,000 affordable homes, with a total of nearly 1 million permanently affordable homes regionwide by 2050; a 17 percent increase in the number of lower-income households living within a half-mile of transit service; and a gradual shift away from the use of single-occupancy cars and trucks. MTC and ABAG planning staff stress that the expected progress would only come about if all the strategies to be detailed in Plan Bay Area 2050+ are implemented.

The full range of performance and equity outcomes from the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Draft Blueprint analysis may be found in the Draft Blueprint Compendium, which also demonstrates how the Bay Area can accommodate some 1.3 million additional jobs and nearly 1 million new households by the year 2050.

The Compendium shows the following proposed budget highlights for three of the Plan’s categories:

Transportation Strategies

$382 billion for T1 – Operate and Maintain the Existing System. Commit to operate and maintain the Bay Area’s roads and transit infrastructure while transitioning to zero-emission transit vehicles.

Housing Strategies

$250 billion for H2 – Preserve Existing Affordable Housing. Acquire homes currently affordable to low- and middle-income residents for preservation as permanently deed-restricted affordable housing, including opportunities for resident ownership.

$302 billion for H4 – Build Adequate Affordable Housing to Ensure Homes for All. Construct enough deed-restricted affordable homes to fill the existing gap in housing for the unhoused community and to meet the needs of low-income households.

Economic Strategies

$205 billion for EC1 – Implement a Statewide Guaranteed Income. Provide an income-based monthly payment to all Bay Area households to improve family stability, promote economic mobility and increase consumer spending.

Environment Strategies

$94 billion for EN1 – Adapt to Sea Level Rise. Adapt shoreline communities, infrastructure and ecosystems affected by sea level rise.

These outcomes were first presented at the May meeting of MTC’s Policy Advisory Council, and then at the June 14 joint meeting of the MTC Planning Committee and the ABAG Administrative Committee.  

The Draft Blueprint also identifies challenges that will have to be addressed as part of the Final Blueprint process over the coming months. More work is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as to identify transportation investment priorities for the plan’s fiscally constrained transportation project list. The Draft Blueprint does not include significant transportation expansion or enhancement investments, as these will be identified through Transit 2050+ and the Final Blueprint process. 

What’s Next?

In light of the pandemic’s lasting impact to public transportation, MTC is collaborating with the region’s transit operators on Transit 2050+ , a parallel planning effort to re-envision the future of public transit in the nine-county Bay Area. Two key updates in this process will be released in July: the Draft Project Performance Assessment and the Transit 2050+ Draft Network. It will be a comprehensive overhaul of the six transit-related strategies included in Plan Bay Area 2050.

The Draft Project Performance Assessment will analyze the costs and benefits of major capacity-increasing projects being considered for inclusion in Plan Bay Area 2050+, the vast majority of which are transit projects. These investments, including those adopted in Plan Bay Area 2050, now face a significantly reduced projected revenue stream. This is due largely to slow post-pandemic transit ridership recovery and other economic changes.

The Transit 2050+ Draft Network will identify strategies and investments (capital and operating) envisioned through 2035 and over the long term through 2050. Development of the Draft Network has been guided in part by public engagement conducted in summer 2023, when nearly 3,000 Bay Area residents provided input on the future of Bay Area transit. The Draft Network also is being informed by an existing needs and gaps assessment conducted in partnership with local transit agencies, the Draft Project Performance Assessment, local priorities and improvements to transit network connectivity and customer experience.

Summer 2024 Public Engagement

Beginning in August, MTC staff will conduct a second round of public engagement for Plan Bay Area 2050+, the content of which will focus on:

• Sharing both the Draft Blueprint outcomes and the Transit 2050+ Draft Network
• Gathering feedback to inform the development of the Final Blueprint and address identified Draft Blueprint challenges
• Identifying early priorities for implementing Plan Bay Area 2050+

There will be a variety of in-person and virtual opportunities for the public to participate. Stay up-to-date on upcoming engagement activities in your community by subscribing to the Plan Bay Area 2050+ mailing list. There also will be dedicated engagement opportunities for technical partners and stakeholders, which will be publicized on the Plan Bay Area website’s Partner Engagement page.

Following an analysis of public input, the Commission and the ABAG Executive Board are expected to consider approval of the Final Blueprint in late 2024.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

To give input to help make transit easier to use and more convenient fill out the survey by July 15

By Lindy Johnson, Director of External Affairs, Contra Costa Transportation Authority

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is inviting residents and travelers within the county to participate in a survey on transit use. Survey responses will inform the development of an Integrated Transit Plan (ITP) to make public transportation easier to use and more convenient in Contra Costa County.
With improved transit, Contra Costa County will be a more livable, sustainable, and equitable place to live and travel. As recommendations in the ITP are put into place, the public will see many benefits:

• Better connections to regional services, like BART and Capitol Corridor.
• Improvements for increased speed and reliability.
• Enhancements to improve riders’ transit experience.

Background

Contra Costa residents want to drive less, but many still rely on cars. This is due in part to the challenges of using public transit, such as insufficient connections between transit provider services, too much time between trips, and long travel times.

The five bus transit operators in the county have a long history of working together, which has improved the transit system and made it easier for riders to transfer between services. However, the system needs to be updated to meet the needs of today’s travelers. We need to make it more efficient and better coordinated, and we need to update services and infrastructure to create a modern and sustainable transit network.

Creating the Integrated Transit Plan

CCTA is working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the five Contra Costa bus operators (AC Transit, County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, WestCAT, and Wheels) to identify ways to optimize the transit network. The ITP will provide guidance for an improved transit network that better serves local and regional travelers.

The ITP will also include a list of improvements that will support enhanced services. The goal of these projects and improvements is to attract more riders and position the bus operators to meet future challenges.

The ITP will focus on the following areas:

• Coordination: Identify ways to improve coordination between transit providers so that riders have convenient and seamless travel. Improved coordination will also result in more efficient use of public funds.
• Innovation: Explore emerging technologies to enhance Contra Costa County’s transit system, like on-demand shuttles that get people to transit, Mobility as a Service, and traffic signals that prioritize the movement of buses.
• Equity: Improve transit so that all communities and residents benefit, including low-income communities, communities of color, and people with disabilities.

The ITP is necessary to enable Contra Costa County’s four bus operators to meet the transportation challenges of the future.

Improved Transit

CCTA wants to make public transportation easier to use and more convenient. With improved transit, Contra Costa County will be a more livable, sustainable, and equitable place to live and travel. As recommendations in the ITP are put into place, the public will see many benefits:

• Better connections to regional services, like BART and Capitol Corridor.
• Improvements for increased speed and reliability.
• Enhancements to improve riders’ transit experience.

Project Status

The ITP project team is actively working to identify new ways to make transit services more reliable, efficient, and accessible, while improving first and last-mile connections. They’re exploring innovative mobility options to help reduce our reliance on cars and promote sustainable transportation across Contra Costa County. The responses to the survey launched in May are being used to review and confirm the team’s recommendations. We’re committed to keeping the public informed throughout this process and plan to share our findings this summer.

Project Timeline

The ITP is an 18-month project that began in April 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in late 2024.

Get Involved

Tell us what would get you where you need to go using public transit! CCTA is looking for input from community members to make sure the ITP meets the needs of all travelers. We’re particularly interested in hearing from transit riders and people in equity priority communities. Five survey participants will have a chance to win a $100 Clipper Card! Take the ITP survey here.

About the project: 

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is working with all five bus service providers in Contra Costa County (AC Transit, WestCAT, County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, and Wheels) and the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MTC) to develop the Integrated Transit Plan (ITP) to improve transit services and coordination in Contra Costa County. CCTA is reviewing all existing services and will recommend new ways to improve transit for everyone, with special consideration for the different needs of riders across the county.
For more information, visit the ITP project website.

State’s excise tax on gasoline increased July 1 from 57.9 to 59.6 cents per gallon and from 44.1 to 45.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel.

No end in the law to annual increases based on state CPI

By Allen D. Payton

If you’re not already aware, the State of California gas tax increased today, July 1, 2024 according to the announcement in May by the Department of Tax and Fee Assessment (CDTFA). According to that notice as reported by the California Taxpayers Association, the state’s excise tax* on gasoline increased today “from 57.9 cents per gallon to 59.6 cents per gallon and from 44.1 cents per gallon to 45.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel.”

According to the California Transportation Commission, “the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 1 (Beall, 2017)…increasing transportation funding and instituting much-needed reforms. SB 1 provides the first significant, stable, and on-going increase in state transportation funding in more than two decades.”

Contra Costa’s representatives at that time split on the bill, with then-Assemblyman Jim Frazier, who was chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, and Assemblyman Tim Grayson voting in favor, and State Senator Steve Glazer voting against.

As of Monday, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), which updates prices daily, drivers in Contra Costa County are paying an average of $4.869 per gallon of regular unleaded gas, while today’s Bay Area average is $4.943, California’s average is $4.794 and the national average is $3.491 per gallon.

Taxes & Fees in the Price for a Gallon of Gas

According to data from the California Energy Commission, drivers are now paying 90 cents in taxes per gallon of gas:

• $0.596 on state excise tax
• $0.184 on the federal excise tax
• $0.10 cents on more state and local sales taxes
• $0.02 for a state underground storage tank fee

Plus, $0.51 for state environmental programs fee for a total of $1.41 in taxes and fees per gallon of gas.

But why does the state gas tax keep increasing each year? It’s due to the passage of a bill in 2017, not a vote of the people, as some folks misremember. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), State Senate Bill 1 (SB1) entitled the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, “was passed by a two-thirds majority in the California Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2017. As the largest transportation investment in California history, SB 1 is expected to raise $52.4 billion for transportation investments statewide over the next decade.” It marked “the first increase in the state excise tax on gasoline since 1994.”

It requires the CDTFA to annually adjust the rate by the increase in the California Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is as calculated by the Department of Finance (CDFI). According to the CADFI, the CPI “measures price changes in goods and services purchased by urban consumers.  The all urban consumer (CPI-U) represents the spending patterns of the majority of the population which includes professionals, the self-employed, the poor, the unemployed, and retired people, as well as urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W).  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) compiles and publishes the CPI for the Los Angeles area monthly, the Riverside area bimonthly, San Diego County bimonthly, the San Francisco area bimonthly, and the nation each month.  A California CPI is calculated…as a population-weighted average of the BLS-published local area CPIs. The California CPI formula was developed by the California Department of Industrial Relations (CADIR).”

According to the CDIR, the CPI “Is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a fixed market basket of goods and services. The CPI provides a way to compare what this market basket of goods and services costs this month with what the same market basket cost, say, a month or year ago.” This year, the California CIP was determined to be 3.3% in February and 3.8% in April.

History of Recent CA Gas Tax Increases

In addition, according to details provided by the CDTFA, “*Effective July 1, 2010, under the Fuel Tax Swap Law, purchases and sales of gasoline are exempt from the state portion of the sales and use tax rate (then 6 percent), and a corresponding increase in the excise tax rate on that gasoline was imposed.” Then, “Effective November 1, 2017, Senate Bill 1 imposed an additional $0.12-per-gallon gasoline tax.” Finally, “Effective July 1, 2020, Senate Bill 1…requires CDTFA to annually adjust the rate by the increase in the California Consumer Price Index.”

Proposed Use of Funds

The majority of the revenue from the state gas tax is intended for “Local Street and Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation” at $1.5 billion per year over 10 years and $1.9 billion for “State Highway Maintenance and Rehabilitation.”

Also, according to the MTC, “In the Bay Area, most of this money will be directed to cities, counties and public transit agencies to tackle the enormous backlog of maintenance and repairs for local streets, roads and transit systems. SB 1 money also will be available for new projects, including bicycle and pedestrian improvements.”

Asked if the law sunsets and the annual increases end or if they continue indefinitely a staff member for CDTFA responded, “CDTFA is required by law to adjust the motor vehicle fuel and diesel fuel excise tax rates annually based on the California Consumer Price Index as calculated by the Department of Finance.  SB1 did not include a sunset date.”

For additional information on SB1 see the answers by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to the Frequently Asked Questions, here and by the California State Controller’s Office, here.