In keeping with his opposition to BART strikes, and what he claims is financial mismanagement and security lapses, State Senator Steve Glazer was joined by Assemblywoman Catharine Baker and local elected officials at a news conference on Wednesday, February 3 at the Walnut Creek BART station, to announce their potential opposition to any new BART taxes – including BART’s multi-billion dollar bond proposal – until it takes specific action steps.

Glazer and Baker were joined by mayors and council members representing 11 cities in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, leaders who have signed the appeal to BART management and unions.

“BART has a lot of work to do before it can earn the trust of voters in November to pay for new taxes,” Glazer said. “We do need to invest in our worn down transportation system so it can serve the hundreds of thousands who depend on it for work, school and recreational pursuits.”

“But we cannot reward bad behavior with more and more taxes. BART has eight months until the election to restore the public trust,” he continued. “There is a pathway to a successful reinvestment in the BART system. But it will require thoughtful leadership from BART management and their unions. Time is running out.”

The letter, which can be seen in its entirety, below, stated:

“We, the undersigned, have serious concerns about a potential multi-billion dollar BART bond that we understand the BART Board of Directors is considering for the November 2016 ballot. Convincing two-thirds of Bay Area voters to agree to a tax increase is already an uphill fight. But the 2013 strike, drawn-out contract negotiations, and wage concessions for workers and management also severely damaged voters’ trust in BART.

To regain that trust and the voters’ support of new taxes, we implore you to negotiate – before the 2016 elections – a new contract that takes into account the dire fiscal needs of the system and ensures that trains keep running on schedule.”

No member of the Antioch City Council signed the letter.

LOCAL STREET CLOSURES:

There will be lane closures in the northbound and southbound directions of A Street/ Lone Tree Way between the State Route 4 on and off ramps on Thursday and Friday evening from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.

HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:

State Route 4:

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Railroad Avenue and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.

For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org.

The Eastern Contra Costa County Transit Authority, better known as Tri Delta Transit, will be handing out over 1,000 umbrellas to East County residents in anticipation of El Niño rains.

“The rain has already begun and more is expected to fall in the coming months. We want our customers to stay dry while waiting for the bus,” said Mike Furnary, Director of Marketing and Customer Service. “While we have a number of shelters located throughout our service area, many bus stops don’t offer protection from the elements. An umbrella is a great way to provide personal protection from the rain, and sun, and can be put to use anywhere.”

Every winter, Tri Delta Transit receives an increase in the number of requests to install shelters at bus stops where there is no overhead protection. Unfortunately, funding and space requirements limit their ability to add shelters. The umbrellas will provide immediate protection to over a thousand Tri Delta Transit customers.

“Plus, the shelter provided by the umbrellas will be available to our customers wherever they go. We refer to them as ‘mobile bus shelters’,” Furnary added.

Back in 2008, Tri Delta Transit provided umbrellas to bus patrons during the summer months as a means to escape the brutal heat of the Eastern Contra Costa sun. “Revising this giveaway seemed like the right thing to do given the forecast for such a wet winter” said Furnary.

The umbrellas are both a customer appreciation gift and useful tool for Tri Delta Transit customers. Patrons are encouraged to bring the umbrellas with them every time they ride the bus. They are light and compact so they’ll easily fit in a purse or back pack. Having one handy will provide protection on a moment’s notice in both sunny and rainy conditions. “It’s just a practical tool to have with you if you ride the bus. We’re very happy to be providing them,” said Furnary.

Tri Delta Transit staff will be canvassing East County over the next couple of weeks distributing umbrellas on buses, at bus stops, park and ride lots and at BART. Bus drivers will be handing them to customers as they board their bus, and riders can pick one up at Tri Delta Transit’s administrative offices on Wilbur Avenue in Antioch while supplies last.

So if you see an abundance of blue and white umbrellas on a rainy el Niño day this winter, you’re sure to find some very happy and much more comfortable people underneath them, compliments of Tri Delta Transit.

Tri Delta Transit was named small bus operator of the year in 2014. They provide over 3,000,000 trips each year to a population of over 250,000 residents in the 225 square miles of Eastern Contra Costa County. They operate 13 local bus routes Monday – Friday, 4 local bus routes on weekends, door-to-door bus service for senior citizens and people with disabilities, and shuttle services to community events.

For additional information about Tri Delta Transit, please visit www.trideltatransit.com.

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURES:

State Route 160:

There will be full freeway closures in the southbound direction of State Route 160 between Main Street/E. 18th Street and the State Route 4/State Route 160 connector ramp on Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am.

HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:

State Route 4:

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Railroad Avenue and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.

State Route 160:

There will be highway lane closures in the northbound direction of State Route 160 between the State Route 4/State Route 160 connector ramp to Main St. off ramp on Tuesday through Wednesday from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am.

There will be highway lane closures in the southbound direction of State Route 160 between 18^th St. on-ramp to State Route 4/State Route 160 connector ramp on Tuesday through Thursday from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm.

For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org.

This week, BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost issued the following statement:

“BART has committed to install a working camera system on each and every train car as quickly as possible.  Staff is already working on funding options, a procurement plan, and deployment strategy.  Our riders and employees’ safety is BART’s top priority.

BART, like all forms of public transit, is a safe mode of transportation. Prior to this announcement, we utilized a robust surveillance system with cameras located in train cars, on platforms, in stations, and even on our individual police officers.  However, the ability of decoy cameras to deter crime depends on the principle of uncertainty.  Once that uncertainty was removed, our strategy was rendered ineffective.

BART’s new Fleet of the Future trains already have cameras on all cars.  Now, both our existing and future cars will have security cameras.”

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Railroad Avenue and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Hillcrest Ave and State Route 160 on Thursday from 11:00 pm to 4:00 am.

For job growth and reduction in commute traffic

Oakley City Councilman and candidate for District 3 County Supervisor Doug Hardcastle is calling for State Route 239, the route between Brentwood and Tracy, and connectors to the Byron Airport to be included in the Transportation Plan for Our Future, being developed by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA).

State Route 239 has been on the state’s plans for over 50 years and is finally in the planning stages. As Chair of Transplan, the Eastern Contra Costa transportation planning committee, and Vice Chair of Tri Delta Transit, Hardcastle supports the construction of the road as part of the proposed Tri-Link project, which includes a four-lane highway and two lines of transit.

“In order to secure the future of job creation and economic development for East County, we need Route 239 between Brentwood and Tracy to connect our region to Interstate-5,” Hardcastle said.

At last week’s county transportation Authority meeting, a presentation was made by a coalition of “Environmental, Labor, Transportation, Housing, Social Justice, Faith, Civic and other Public Interest Groups” asking the authority board to prohibit Route 239, labeling it “sprawl-inducing.”

“Route 239 will help us have jobs in East County, so people who already live here can work here,” Hardcastle responded. “That will mean people can get out of the commute and no longer be forced to go to jobs out of the area.”

Plans for the Byron Airport include extension of the runway and locating a Fixed Base Operation (FBO), serving commercial pilots who bring their clients into the area for business appointments and pleasure trips. Two connectors are needed, one to the proposed Route 239 and another to Vasco Road, to provide better access to the airport.

“In addition to Route 239, the Byron Airport offers great potential for job creation in East County,” Hardcastle stated. “We need to make sure expansion plans for the airport and better access to it are included in the proposed county transportation plan. That will make the airport more economically viable and no longer require a taxpayer subsidy of $500,000 per year. It needs to be self-funding.”

“But, we need to give it the tools to do so,” he added

Ron Reagan, Chair of the county’s Aviation Advisory Committee and a member of the Contra Costa Land Use Commission, agrees with Hardcastle on the need for better access to the Byron Airport.

“We need better access to the Byron Airport from both sides,” Reagan said. “We need Doug Hardcastle’s leadership in transportation issues, to ensure the Tri-Link project and expansion of the airport are accomplished.”

“I encourage all residents in District 3 to speak out in favor of both Route 239 and improvements to the Byron Airport at the next CCTA Board meeting on January 20^th,” Hardcastle added. “If you can’t attend you can contact the them by email at info@ccta.net or phone call at (925) 256-4700.

For more information on Route 239 and the proposed Tri-Link Project, visit www.trilink239.org. For more information on the Byron Airport visit www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/3802/Byron-Airport-C83. To learn more about the CCTA’s Transportation for Our Future planning process visit www.ccta.net/funding/our_future.

Doug Hardcastle was elected to the Oakley City Council in 2012 and just completed a year as Mayor. From 2000 to 2012 he served as a Director on the Ironhouse Sanitary District Board, for which he served as President in 2010-2011. He currently serves on both the Transplan Committee and the Tri Delta Transit Board of Directors. He and his wife Lyn own Hardcastle’s RV in Oakley. He’s a life-long resident of Contra Costa County. For more information visit www.doughardcastle.com.

Supervisor District 3 includes Oakley, Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Blackhawk, Diablo, Camino Tassajara, Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen and part of Antioch. The election is on June 7, 2016.

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURES:

State Route 4:

There are no full freeway closures of State Route 4 planned for this week.

State Route 160:

There are no full freeway closures of State Route 160 planned for this week.

HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:

State Route 4:

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Railroad Avenue and Contra Loma on Monday, January 11 through Friday, January 15 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Contra Loma on Monday, January 11 through Friday, January 15 from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.

State Route 160:

There are no highway lane closures of State Route 160 planned for this week.

RAMP CLOSURES:

There are no ramp closures planned for this week.

LOCAL STREET CLOSURES:

There are no local street closures planned for this week.

For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org