The John A. Nejedly Bridge in Antioch. Photo: BATA
Last of three voter-approved increases takes effect Jan. 1st; failed in Contra Costa
BATA board also voted last week to increase tolls to $11.50 by 2030 for bridge maintenance and repairs
By John Goodwin, Assistant Director of Communications & Rebecca Long, Director, Legislation & Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) reminds drivers that tolls at the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges will go up by $1 next Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. This will be the third of the three $1 toll increases approved by the California Legislature in 2017 through state Senate Bill 595 and by voters through Regional Measure 3 (RM3) in June 2018 which passed by 55.07% to 44.93%. The first of these toll hikes went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, and the second on Jan. 1, 2022. It funds $4.45 billion slate of highway and transit improvements but did not include bridge maintenance and repairs.
Regular tolls for two-axle cars and trucks (as well as for motorcycles) at the Antioch, San Francisco-Oakland Bay, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges will rise to $8 from the current $7 on Jan. 1, 2025.
Tolls for vehicles with three or more axles also will rise by $1 on Jan. 1, 2025, at all seven of the state-owned toll bridges: to $18 for three axles, $23 for four-axles, $28 for five axles, $33 for six axles, and $38 for combinations with seven or more axles.
Contra Costa Voters Opposed Ballot Measure
According to Ballotpedia, RM3 raised bridge tolls in the Bay Area—excluding tolls for the Golden Gate Bridge—by $3 over six years to fund the Bay Area Traffic Relief Plan, including a $4.5 billion slate of transportation projects. It was on the ballot for voters in the city and county of San Francisco and the following counties: Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma.
Voters in two of the counties most affected by the bridge tolls rejected RM3. The vote in Contra Costa County was 44.54% opposed to 55.465 in favor and Solano County voters overwhelmingly opposed it 30.03% to 69.97%. But voters in the other seven counties approved the measure. Alameda County where voters and commuters are also most affected by bridge toll increases passed RM3 by 53.89% to 46.11% The vote margin was closest in Napa County, where voters approved the measure 50.7 percent to 49.3 percent.
Source: Ballotpedia
Regional Measure 3 continues the peak-period toll discount for motorcycles, qualifying carpools and qualifying clean-air vehicles crossing any of the state-owned toll bridges on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The discounted toll will rise to $4 on Jan. 1 from the current $3.50. To qualify for this discount, carpoolers, motorcyclists and drivers of clean-air vehicles must use FasTrak® to pay their tolls electronically and must use a designated carpool lane at each toll plaza.
Senate Bill 595 and Regional Measure 3 also established a 50-cent toll discount for two-axle vehicles crossing more than one of the state-owned toll bridges during weekday commute hours of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. To be eligible for the toll discount, which is to be applied to the second toll crossing of the day, motorists must pay their tolls electronically with FasTrak®. Carpools, motorcycles and qualifying clean-air vehicles making a second peak-period toll crossing in a single day will qualify for an additional 25-cent discount off the already-discounted carpool toll.
New FasTrak® customers can obtain toll tags at Costco warehouse stores and select Walgreens stores around Northern California. A complete list of participating locations — as well as an online enrollment and registration feature — is available on the FasTrak® Web site at bayareafastrak.org. Customers also may enroll in the FasTrak® program by phone at 1-877-229-8655; by calling 511 and asking for “FasTrak” at the first prompt; or in person at the FasTrak® customer service center at 375 Beale Street in San Francisco. FasTrak® can be used in all lanes at all Bay Area toll plazas.
Major projects in the Regional Measure 3 expenditure plan include improvements to State Route 37 in the North Bay, freeway interchange improvements in Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties, the purchase of more new BART cars, extension of the BART system from Berryessa to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara, extension of the Caltrain corridor to the Salesforce Transit Center in downtown San Francisco, expansion of Muni’s transit vehicle fleet, expansion of San Francisco Bay Ferry service and more frequent transbay bus service, an improved connection between northbound U.S. 101 and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in Marin County, upgrades to the Dumbarton Bridge corridor, and extension of the SMART rail system to Windsor and Healdsburg in Sonoma County.
In Addition to Recently Approved Toll Hikes Beginning Jan. 1, 2026
The Regional Measure 3 toll hike that takes effect next week is separate from the 50 cents per year toll hikes approved by BATA earlier this month, which will be phased in over five years, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, to pay for the maintenance, rehabilitation and operation of the seven state-owned toll bridges. It will increase tolls by 2030 to $11.50 for those who don’t use FasTrak and $10.50 for those who do. BATA this month also approved updates to the policies for high-occupancy vehicles on approaches to the state-owned bridges, which will similarly go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. (See related article)
BATA, which is directed by the same policy board as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), administers toll revenues from the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges. Toll revenues from the Golden Gate Bridge are administered by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which joined with BATA to operate a single regional FasTrak® customer service center in San Francisco. MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.
For $2 billion in maintenance, preservation and operation of Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges.
Contra Costa’s representatives voted in favor of 50-cent annual increases beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
By Allen D. Payton
After extending the period for public input, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) Board of Directors voted 15-0-1 to approve toll increases and other toll policy changes for the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Tolls will increase to as much as $11.50 by 2030.
According to BATA spokesman John Goodwin, the vote passed “by all 16 members present save one abstention from a brand-new commissioner, Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy-Ashcraft, who represents the cities of Alameda County.”
The board consists of 21 members, with 18 voting members, he shared. Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack, who represents the cities of Contra Costa, and Contra Costa District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, who represents the County, both voted in favor of the toll increases.
A phased toll increase starting in 2026 is proposed to fund the Toll Bridge Capital Improvement Plan, which includes almost $2 billion of investment which will be used exclusively for the maintenance, preservation and operation of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Richmond-San Rafael, Carquinez, Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges.
The Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges are structurally sound and in good repair. State law requires BATA — working in partnership with Caltrans — to keep them that way.
The toll increases are separate from the $3 increase approved by Bay Area voters in 2018 through Regional Measure 3 to finance a comprehensive suite of highway and transit improvements around the region. The first of the three $1 Regional Measure 3 increases went into effect in 2019, followed by another in 2022. The last of the RM 3 toll hikes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, bringing the toll for regular two-axle cars and trucks to $8.
Summary of the 2026 Toll Increase
Toll rates include the last voter-approved Regional Measure 3 (RM 3) toll increase that goes into effect January 1, 2025.
To encourage electronic toll payment with FasTrak® tags, tolls and help recoup the increased costs of collecting tolls via pre-registered license plate accounts or invoices, on Jan. 1, 2027 will also rise by 25 cents for customers who pay with a pre-registered license plate account and on January 1, 2027, will rise by $1 for tolls paid by invoice.
Two-Axle Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA
Toll Increase: Two-Axle Vehicle Toll
The toll rate update includes an increase of 50 cents a year from 2026 through 2030 for two-axle vehicles. This phased-in approach is similar to the Golden Gate Bridge’s recent multi-year update to its toll schedule.
*HOV rate is 50% of two-axle FasTrak rate.
Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA
Toll Increase: Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll
Tolls for multi-axle vehicles also will rise by 50 cents per axle per year from 2026 through 2030.
Multi-axle differential pricing:
Invoices: +$1.00 per transaction starting January 1, 2027
License plate account: + $0.25 per transaction starting January 1, 2027
A Precedent for Tiered Pricing
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has used a tiered pricing schedule at the Golden Gate Bridge since 2014.
Golden Gate Bridge tolls by July 2028 will range from $11.25 for FasTrak to $11.50 for license plate accounts to $12.25 for invoice customers.
Summary of the Changes to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Policies
BATA is also making changes to HOV policies. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the changes will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. It will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to all bridges except the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas.
BATA’s existing toll schedule allows vehicles with three or more occupants (HOV 3+) a discounted toll (half-price), with a two-person (HOV 2+) occupancy requirement for the discounted tolls at the Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the new policy will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. The discounted toll rate is available weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m.
The policy changes will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas. There will be no change at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, where volumes of vehicles with three or more occupants are much higher than those at other bridges. Use of the carpool lanes on approaches to the Bay Bridge will still require a minimum of three occupants.
In addition to establishing region-wide consistency for the carpool toll discount, the policy changes are designed to:
Improve safety on the toll bridge approaches by minimizing “weaving” between lanes.
Optimize lane configurations as now-obsolete toll booths are removed as part of the bridges’ transition to open-road tolling.
Increase person-throughput by prioritizing access for buses and carpools.
While working to increase ridership currently averaging on weekdays about 40% of pre-COVID figures
By Bay Area Rapid Transit District
As BART strives to increase ridership, which is averaging about 40% of weekday pre-COVID figures, BART fares will increase January 1, 2025, to keep pace with inflation so that the agency is able to pay for continued operations and to work toward restoring financial stability. BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations.
Fares will increase 5.5 percent on New Year’s Day. The increase is tied to the rate of inflation minus a half-percentage point. It’s the second such increase – the first took effect January 1, 2024.
The average fare will increase 25 cents, from $4.47 to $4.72. BART’s fare calculator and Trip Planner have been updated with the new fares for trips with the date 1/1/25 and beyond. Riders can learn how the increase will affect their travels by entering a 2025 date for their trip.
“We understand that price increases are never welcome, but BART fares remain a vital source of funds even with ridership lower than they were before the pandemic,” said BART Board Vice President Mark Foley. “My Board colleagues and I voted in June 2023 to spread necessary fare increases over two years rather than catching up all at once. At the same time, we voted to increase the Clipper START means-based discount from 20 percent to 50 percent to help those most in need.”
The fare increase is expected to raise about $14 million per year for operations. Combined with the previous year’s fare adjustment, BART will use this $30 million per year to fund train service, enhanced cleaning, additional police and unarmed safety staff presence, and capital projects such as the Next Generation Fare Gates project.
Discounts available for those who are eligible
The regional Clipper START program is an important resource for low-income riders of BART and other Bay Area transit systems. The program is for adult riders with a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less. Administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, program participants receive a personalized Clipper card that cuts half the cost of fares on more than 20 transit systems.
Limited income riders get 50% off with Clipper START.
The RTC Clipper card is a version of Clipper created for passengers under 65 with qualifying disabilities to provide 62.5% off.
Regular, predictable increases a long-term strategy
January’s fare increase is the latest adjustment in a strategy to provide BART funding while providing riders predictable, scaled changes to the costs of riding. In 2004, BART first implemented this inflation-based fare increase program that calls for small, regular, less-than-inflation increases every two years, allowing fares to keep up with the cost of providing reliable and safe service.
BART is also much less expensive than driving on a cost per mile basis. The Internal Revenue Service standard mileage rate for driver is 67 cents per mile; BART riders pay an average of 27 cents per mile, 60% less than the cost of driving.
Outdated funding model
BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations. Even with the fare increase, BART is facing a $35 million operating deficit in FY26 and $385 million in FY27. Since BART’s outdated model of relying on passenger fares to pay most operating costs is no longer feasible because of remote work, the agency must modernize its funding sources to better match other transit systems throughout the country that receive larger amounts of public funding. BART needs a more reliable long-term source of operating funding and continues to advocate at the federal, state, and regional levels for the permanent funding needed to sustainably provide the quality transit service the Bay Area needs.
Addressing BART’s ongoing financial crisis will take a variety of solutions including securing new revenue and continuing to find internal cost savings. BART costs have grown at a rate lower than inflation, showing we have held the line on spending. We have implemented a service schedule that better matches ridership, and we are running shorter trains, reducing traction power consumption and maintenance costs.
The John A. Nejedly Bridge in Antioch. Photo: BATA
By Marc Joffe
As if the $1 toll hike on January 1, 2025, is not enough, commissioners at the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) plan to approve a series of five fifty cent increases starting in 2026. By 2030, tolls on the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges will reach $10.50 for FasTrak users and $11.50 for drivers paying by invoice. Included in the increase are these four bridges with landings in Contra Costa County:
Antioch (Senator John A. Nejedly) Bridge
Benicia-Martinez (George Miller) Bridge
Carquinez Bridge
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
Aside from toll hikes, motorists are facing a gasoline price increase arising from the California Air Resources Board’s recent imposition of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. According to a research center at the University of Pennsylvania, LCFS could cost drivers up to 85 cents extra per gallon. And this is on top of California’s highly elevated fuel prices, driven by taxes that rise annually under SB1 (2018).
Despite increasing maintenance costs, the Bay Area bridges are quite profitable. BATA expects total revenue of $1.058 billion this year. The costs of operating the bridges, running FasTrak, and paying debt service are projected to total just $757 million, leaving $300 million to spare.
As BATA admits in its own FAQ on the toll increase, $3.00 of the current $7.00 toll is already being siphoned off for purposes other than bridge operations, maintenance, and seismic safety (this will increase to $4.00 of $8.00 on January 1). For example, almost $6 million is diverted annually to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority to operate its empty bus terminal and to pursue its hopeless plan to bring high-speed rail trains into the Salesforce Transit Center. Bridge toll money is also being used to subsidize Bay Area ferries, SF Muni, AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit, and the NAPA Vine bus service.
The toll hike on the Antioch Bridge is especially egregious. BATA is charging the same tolls on all its bridges despite their vastly different lengths. The Bay Bridge is 8.4 miles long while the Antioch Bridge is just 1.8 miles long. Also, unlike all other Bay Area bridges, the Antioch Bridge has just one lane in each direction.
And then there is the question of income. While many Bay Area drivers are wealthy enough to easily absorb the toll hike, that is less true of people living near the Antioch Bridge. According to Census Reporter, Antioch’s per capita income is only 56 percent of the average for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro region. Rio Vista, the first sizable community on the north side of the bridge, clocks in at just 67 percent of the metro area’s income per person.
At minimum, BATA should exempt the Antioch Bridge from its planned toll hikes. But better yet, the Authority should shelve its entire toll increase plan, stop siphoning off toll money for other purposes, and live within its means.
Marc Joffe is President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association.
Bay Bridge Toll Plaza photos taken 9 /16 & 8/13. By Karl Nielsen courtesy of MTC
Until Dec. 18
Board considering increasing to as high as $11.50 to pay “exclusively for bridge preservation and operations” in spite of three voter-approved $1 increases
“A Thanksgiving/holiday season decision is a hide the ball strategy. Not good.” – State Senator Steve Glazer
By John Goodwin & Rebecca Long, MTC
November 20, 2024 update: The public comment period on the Bay Area Toll Authority’s proposed toll increase and HOV policy changes is extended through the end of public comment heard on the agenda item for BATA’s December 18, 2024 meeting. All public written and oral comments provided through that time will be incorporated into the record. However, in order for comments to be summarized and published in the agenda packet and distributed in advance of consideration of this item at the December 11, 2024, BATA Oversight Committee meeting, they must be submitted by 5 p.m. December 3, 2024.
BATA — which is required by state law to fund projects to preserve and protect the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges — today heard again a proposal for a toll increase that would be used only to pay for the maintenance, rehabilitation and operation of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. If approved by BATA at its December 18 meeting, the toll increase would be phased in over five years, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Source: BATA
The toll increase proposal includes a tiered rate structure aimed at encouraging more customers to pay electronically with FasTrak® toll tags, as this form of payment carries lower administrative costs than payment through a license plate account or returning payment with an invoice received by mail. Under the proposal, customers would pay a premium for using a pre-registered license plate account or for invoiced tolling. To give customers ample time to sign up for FasTrak, this premium would not begin until 2027.
The proposed toll hike is separate from the $3 increase approved by Bay Area voters in 2018 through Regional Measure 3 to finance a comprehensive suite of highway and transit improvements around the region. The first of the three $1 Regional Measure 3 toll increases went into effect in 2019, followed by another in 2022. The last of the RM 3 toll hikes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, bringing the toll for regular two-axle cars and trucks to $8.
The proposal heard today by BATA calls for tolls for all regular two-axle cars and trucks to increase to $8.50 on Jan. 1, 2026. Tolls for customers who pay with FasTrak tags would then rise to $9 in 2027; to $9.50 in 2028; to $10 in 2029; and then to $10.50 in 2030. Tolls for customers who use a pre-registered license plate account would rise to $9.25 in 2027; to $9.75 in 2028; to $10.25 in 2029 and to $10.75 in 2030. Invoiced tolls would rise to $10 in 2027; $10.50 in 2028; $11 in 2029; and $11.50 in 2030. The Golden Gate Bridge has used a tiered pricing schedule since 2014. Golden Gate Bridge tolls by July 2028 will range from $11.25 for FasTrak to $11.50 for license plate accounts to $12.25 for invoice customers.
Source: BATA
Under the proposed toll increase, tolls for large freight trucks and other vehicle/trailer combinations with three or more axles would rise by 50 cents per axle each year from 2026 through 2030.
“I’m sensitive to the overall cost of living in the Bay Area,” acknowledged Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza, who also serves as chair of both BATA and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). “Working families really feel the impact, not just in transportation but back at home with utilities, groceries, children. This one is hard. But it’s the right thing to do.”
BATA and MTC invite members of the public to weigh in on the proposed toll increase during a comment period that begins Monday, Nov.4, and continues through the end of BATA’s Dec. 18 meeting. Comments may be sent via email to info@bayareametro.gov. As part of its regular November meeting, BATA today held a public hearing in San Francisco to receive testimony about the proposal from Bay Area residents, businesses and other interested parties.
Today’s presentation by BATA and MTC staff also proposed updates to the policies for high-occupancy vehicles on approaches to the Bay Area’s state-owned toll bridges. These updates would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, concurrent with the proposed toll increase. BATA’s existing toll schedule allows vehicles with three or more occupants (HOV 3+) a discounted toll, with a two-person (HOV 2) occupancy requirement for half-price tolls at the Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. BATA and MTC staff propose to establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for half-price tolls during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. Carpool vehicles at all state-owned bridges must use a dedicated carpool lane and pay their tolls with a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to the ‘3’ position to receive the 50 percent discount available weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The proposed carpool policy changes also would allow vehicles with two occupants and a switchable FasTrak Flex toll tag set to the ‘2’ position to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. These two-occupant vehicles would not receive the 50 percent carpool discount but would be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas. Use of the carpool lanes on approaches to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge still would require a minimum of three occupants.
The new carpool policy proposals are designed to improve safety on the toll bridge approaches by minimizing ‘weaving’ between lanes and to increase person-throughput by prioritizing access for buses and carpools. The policy change also would optimize lane configurations as now-obsolete toll booths are removed as part of the coming transition to open-road tolling.
Removing spalled on concrete on pier cap 305. Photo: CalTrans
BATA, which is directed by the same policy board as MTC, administers toll revenues from the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges. Toll revenues from the Golden Gate Bridge are administered by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which joined with BATA to operate a single regional FasTrak customer service center in San Francisco. MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.
In response to a post of the link to this press release on X/Twitter on Wednesday, Nov. 30, State Senator Steve Glazer, who represents most of Contra Costa County, protested the proposed toll hikes writing, “Why was this need not identified and incorporated during the last toll increase in 2018? You don’t buy a boat and a new car when you don’t have the $ to fix the roof! A Thanksgiving/holiday season decision is a hide the ball strategy. Not good.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is launching Get Educated and Ride Safe VII (GEARS VII), a yearlong program that focuses on education and enforcement strategies to reduce motorcycle-related crashes and fatalities. The CHP received a $700,000 federal grant to fund the program.
Provisional data from the federal fiscal year 2022-23 highlights the urgent need for such measures, with more than 7,000 motorcycle-involved crashes, resulting in 336 fatalities and more than 6,300 injuries within CHP jurisdiction.
“This grant will significantly enhance the CHP’s motorcycle safety and awareness programs by allowing us to continue educating both motorcyclists and drivers on safe practices,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “It’s a vital reminder that whether you’re driving a car or riding a motorcycle, everyone shares the responsibility for keeping our roads safe.”
Throughout the grant period, CHP is ramping up motorcycle safety activities in regions with high crash rates and will participate in statewide and national traffic safety public awareness campaigns, including “National Motorcycle Ride Day” which was held on Saturday, October 12, 2024. These efforts will promote the use of U.S. Department of Transportation-compliant helmets and emphasize the importance of sharing the road with motorcyclists. Additionally, the CHP will increase enforcement in areas with motorcycle-involved crashes caused by speed, improper turns, and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
District 1 BART Board Director Debora Allen. Herald file photo.
The Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) invites you to attend a Luncheon, Board and Members’ Meeting at Denny’s Restaurant 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, on Friday October 25, 2024, from 11:45 am to 1:10 pm.
Please register in advance on the CoCoTax website where you can pay online or bring cash or check on Friday and pay at the door-$25 for members, $30 for guests.
About Our Speaker: Debora Allen
Debora Allen was first elected to the BART Board of Directors in 2016 and re-elected in November 2020, representing eight cities in central Contra Costa County’s District 1. She leaves the BART Board at the end of this year having led the charge for improved fare gates, safe and reliable transit, and fiscal sanity.
In her lunch time remarks to CoCoTax, Debora will look back on her time on the BART board and discuss the transit district’s future.
Debora has over 30 years of financial and business management experience in both private and public sectors, primarily in construction and real estate industries. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (accounting) from CSU Sacramento and completed numerous continuing professional education courses in the areas of financial audit, taxation, accounting systems, institutional investing, and pension administration. She practiced as a Certified Public Accountant in California for almost 20 years and currently still holds an inactive CPA license.
Prior to election to BART, Debora spent decades volunteering on boards in youth sports programs, taxpayer oversight groups, and other non-profits including six years as a pension board trustee for the Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association.
Since 2016, she served on regional transportation boards including Capitol Corridor JPA, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee, CCTA Accessible Transportation Strategic Policy Advisory Committee, and the Pleasant Hill BART Leasing Authority. She has also served on several BART Board subcommittees.
For more information call (925) 289-6900 or email info@cocotax.org.
The SJJPA Board of Directors meeting was held in the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Chambers on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Video screenshot.
Plan must include improvements to safety for riders and Amtrak staff, preventing homeless encampments, financial commitment
“Antioch needs to make a commitment,” Supervisor Diane Burgis
“Don’t drop the stop” residents repeated
Only about 40 round-trip riderships a day from the Antioch-Pittsburg stop
“We weren’t invited by the city council…to make a presentation or we would have done so…there haven’t been any calls to action by the owner of the station” meaning the City of Antioch,” SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen.
By Allen D. Payton
During the meeting of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), which governs the Amtrak system to and through Antioch, on Friday, September 20, 2024, the Board of Directors received a presentation on a proposed plan by Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe to keep the station open and heard an earful from Antioch residents and others. Many repeated the slogan, “Don’t drop the stop.” Only three of the board members were in attendance in the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Chambers in Martinez, including Vice-Chair and Merced County Supervisor Rodrigo Espinosa, Contra Costa District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis and Tracy Mayor Nancy Young. Burgis represents portions of Antioch on the Board of Supervisors. The other SJJPA board members participated online via Zoom. (See meeting video)
As previously reported, the SJJPA Board voted to decommission the Antioch station during their March 24, 2023, meeting. It wasn’t until July this year that the Antioch City Council responded with a letter requesting the board change their vote and it wasn’t until last week that the mayor said he had a plan to address the SJJPA’s concerns with safety and homelessness at and near the station.
Closure of the Antioch station is now planned for mid- to late-2027, according to SJJPA staff. So, there’s time for a plan to be approved by the city council, which is expected to hear about it, next month, and to be implemented. That should give the SJJPA Board what they need to then go to BNSF Rail, which owns the rail line in and through Antioch, to request an exception to their rule requiring a six-mile distance between stations. The planned new Oakley Amtrak station is less than that distance from Antioch’s which gave the board another reason to close it.
“The lack of visible evidence by the City to improve the situation over the years, and the comments by the Amtrak Inspector General…made it difficult to not make a decision.” SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen
SJJPA Executive Director Says Issue Dates Back Almost 15 Years, There’s Been No Plan from City
SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen opened with a presentation on the history of the station and the reasons for the board’s decision for its decommissioning. She shared a system map showing the Amtrak San Joaquins routes and said, “some of these stations are in areas dealing with the same issues as Antioch,” including homelessness and crime.
“They have gone on for almost 15 years,” she stated. “They’ve gone on through different city councils, different mayors, different city managers, different staff. I would be hopeful to keep the station opened.”
“These discussions have been occurring long before the authority existed,” Mortensen continued. “They went on so long.”
Speaking of the lack of communication between the authority and the city and other agencies she said, “They can’t find a neat path of communication…by any of the communities,” referring to no email or paper trail as reported by the Herald from multiple public records requests. “We weren’t invited by the city council or any of the entities to make a presentation or we would have done so,” she added.
“The City of Antioch owns the station property,” Mortensen explained. “They have a long-term lease with the BNSF. A little over 80% of the passengers are heading east. It’s been asserted Antioch residents would lose their only access to jobs in the Bay Area. But Antioch residents have access to eBART. Granted it does not go into the Valley.”
She mentioned ridership is “about 40 round trips a day. Intercity ridership is different,” and “The six-mile spacing. That is true. However, the trains switch to the UP route just outside of here, in Martinez. They deal with spacing on a case-by-case basis. That track is governed by UP criteria.” Mortensen was referring to the shorter distance between the Oakland and Emeryville stations that she was asked about by the Herald.
Speaking of last year’s board meeting at which they voted to decommission the station she said, “The Board gave Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe an opportunity to give a presentation. The lack of visible evidence by the City to improve the situation over the years, and the comments by the Amtrak Inspector General…made it difficult to not make a decision.”
Tamika Smith has spent time over the past few years…trying to seek a solution,” Mortensen added before turning over the presentation to her.
“Over 10 years ago, about 15, Amtrak staff did meet with Antioch staff…and the words were, ‘rip out the platform’,” Smith stated. “The wheelchair lift was broken into and stolen, twice. The new one has been installed. But the homeless have defecated on the handle. The hazmat team has to be called out” to clean it up before being used.
She mentioned a “Lack of response by the Antioch Police department” and said, “representatives have met with different city managers. We met with the interim city manager and interim chief of police. During that meeting we agreed to anything that Antioch can do to make the station safer for passengers…and more importantly Amtrak staff.”
Mortensen responded saying, “There was no plan presented to staff at that time. We were very disappointed there was no plan to report out and present to you, today.”
“All of the calls for action…have been really been to protest the decision. That is understandable,” she continued. “But there haven’t been any calls to action by the owner of the station. There was a letter from the City of Pittsburg supporting keeping the station open. The Board left a lot of doors open in the decommissioning option. But all those options include keeping the Antioch station safer.”
Mortensen stated, “the goal was a future with an Antioch station open.”
Mayor Young read a statement from Chair and Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Hume, who was absent from the meeting.
“This board made the decision to open a new station in Oakley,” she read. “If certain steps were taken…heighten security for the safety of the passengers..we could then ask for an exception to BNSF on the spacing between the stations.”
“Any suggestion that an action has been undone…is inaccurate,” Hume’s statement continued. “We look forward to working with all parties.”
“I would have to echo many of what he said, here,” Young stated. “We made it clear…we’re not making a decision to not open Oakley. But we’re looking at opportunities to save…the station in Antioch.”
“We stressed the partnerships we have in other cities which keeps the stations open,” she continued. “So, we’re looking to Antioch to provide the answers…and number one the safety of the ridership but also the employees.”
“I’m very sensitive to those who are homeless. But we want to make sure we’re looking at options…to make that area safe,” Young said. “We asked if the City of Antioch would be open…to putting together a plan to keep the station open. I’m still hopeful. But it takes partnership.”
“There is possibility that there is something we can do to work out a solution…to go talk to BNSF so they can work out the spacing…and that we can salvage that and not continue with the decommissioning,” she added, concluding her remarks. That received a round of applause.
“(Acting City Manager) Kwame and myself do not have the authority to approve a plan. The city council has felt cut out by this process. That’s why I’m bringing it back to council,” – Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe
Photos taken on July 4, 2024, show a homeless encampment (yellow circles) and residents at the Antioch Amtrak station. Herald file photos
Mayor Presents Proposed Plan with List of Solutions
Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe then provided his presentation saying that the meeting was “certainly not the same as we had last year. This time we have the city of Antioch, here.” Speaking of the board’s vote and matters surroundin it he said, “There’s no sense in arguing over spilled milk.”
“I don’t know what meeting you had with the chief and Kwame. But our agreement was for me to come here today to present a plan,” he stated. “Kwame and myself do not have the authority to approve a plan. The city council has felt cut out by this process. That’s why I’m bringing it back to council but not at the next meeting because myself and Councilwoman Torres-Walker would be absent. So, it’s going to be on the agenda for the meeting in October.”
The mayor then read from the proposal which include, “Increase security presence,” during specific hours of the day. “Create a faire-only zone…to ensure only people who are supposed to be there.”
“Consistent enforcing of no encampment in the landscaping area,” the mayor continued.
“To show that photo from years ago…take a picture, today,” he complained to the SJJPA staff. (However, the Herald photos taken on July 4, 2024 – above – show a homeless resident’s tent in the landscaped area of the station and homeless residents sitting on the concrete bench).
The list also includes, “Decorative fencing around the landscape area to make it more difficult” for a homeless encampment there, the mayor shared.
“Please stop suggesting we haven’t been working on our train station,” Hernandez-Thorpe stated raising his voice.
Speaking of the homeless residents at or near the station he said, “We literally took those and put them in your hotel, Diane, in Pittsburg,” referring to the Delta Landing transitional housing facility at the former Motel 6 on Loveridge Road.
When asked by the acting SJJPA board chair if there were any other officials in the audience who wanted to speak, Hernandez-Thorpe said a representative from Congressman John Garamendi’s office was there and the congressman opposed the closure. But that person did not speak to the board. Antioch District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica was also in attendance but did not speak during the meeting.
Calls for Service at Antioch station from Jan. 2021 through Dec. 2022. Source: Amtrak Police via SJJPA
Public Comments Include Complaints of Being Excluded from Process, Accusation of Racism, False Allegations
The SJJPA board members then heard comments from about 25 Antioch residents and others opposed to the Amtrak station’s closure many repeating the slogan, “Don’t drop the stop.”
Pittsburg resident Nicole Errington said, “I find it very offensive that homeless people are being blamed for what’s happening there,” and then read the letter from the Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans mentioned by Hernandez-Thorpe.
A woman representing ACCE Antioch (Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action) said, “ACCE met with Diane Burgis team. She had no idea what we wanted to meet about. There’s been talks about this being in the works for the past 15 years. Everything’s being blamed on our new mayor, but he’s been making changes. He’s only been there for four years.” (Actually, Hernandez-Thorpe has been on the council for almost eight years).
“I find it very interesting that the community was not made aware. I find it interesting the blame of crime,” she continued. “You keep talking crime but where’s the actual numbers, please? Be nimble and keep the station opened.”
Eddie Gums, vice chair of ACCE Antioch, spoke about, “Amtrak employees being assaulted. That makes no sense. I ride the train regularly. It’s a joke. It comes down to being racist. In 15 years, you haven’t done anything to make things better. The root of the problem is the money…you want to take away from Antioch…to take away from the homeless. Oakley doesn’t care about the train. The game is over. When we fight, we win.”
Tashina Garrett, chair of ACCE Antioch said, “I’m here because of Ms. Burgis, Ms. Smith, all these people who want to share these lies. We finally had a meeting with Ms. Burgis. She tried to put things off on Ms. Smith. But we couldn’t have a meeting with her.”
“Ms. Mortensen, ‘who was in discussion about the station decommissioning? Why isn’t Amtrak helping out with the policing of the station as they do all others?’” she asked. “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired of Antioch being blamed…of Mayor Thorpe being blamed.”
Garrett mentioned during last year’s meeting that “Diane Burgis said, ‘Oh, yeah, this has been in the works for 10 years.’ Who are the people who made this decision?” She asked if it was, “Mike Barbanica who is running for Supervisor of Contra Costa County? Is it Back the Blue?” (Barbanica has only served on the city council for four years).
Another speaker said, “I heard of all these meetings with city staff, city council members, the chief of police. But where were the meetings with the public?”
“I’ve had the opportunity to compare crime for all the stations along the route,” a member of the Transbay Coalition said. “Antioch doesn’t stand out. Oakland-Jack London Square…is more affected by violent crime. Antioch is more affected by vehicle break-ins.”
Transbay Coalition. “Ultimately, the data are not there to support the crime at the Antioch station is enough to close the stop.”
Resident and homeless advocate Andrew Becker was the final member of the public to speak saying, “Amtrak came to Antioch in the ‘80’s but came to the United States in the ‘70’s. The San Joaquins line…doesn’t affect our community currently. In 1971 Amtrak decided to discontinue the San Joaquins line and move over to the Capitol Corridors.”
“State leaders took action and in 1974 to bring back that line. Why was there no stop in Antioch until the ‘80’s. Antioch used their redevelopment money to redevelop that site. There was siding there. In the 90’s the station facility was put in for space for a ticket agent, but it was never staffed. That’s Amtrak’s commitment to our community.”
“When Amtrak came to Antioch there were 40,000 residents. Now there are over 115,000 residents. Antioch has 40 census tracts, 17 of them are low-income.”
“We are disconnecting communities,” he stated.
“I do think the component of having city council buy-in and backing it up with a budget…that’s what will move things along.” – Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis
Board Member Comments.
Burgis spoke first saying, “In March of 2023 I attended my first meeting of the SJJPA and this issue came up and I spoke of this being a difficult situation and that if they were going to go forward with this, I would support Antioch…whether it was technology, finding some way.
I know people need a bad guy and I’ll take that if that’s my role.
The problem is in those 18 months I’ve asked staff several times ‘have you heard from Antioch.’” They did not say, ‘what do we need to do to fix this.’”
“I think what Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe recommended…is a good start. But the reason staff wanted to meet with city staff was for brainstorming…to talk about keeping the station opened or reopening it.”
“The next step is for the city council to be supportive if that and for them to fund it,” she continued.
“You’re right, Antioch is beautiful. Downtown is a wonderful place to bloom, and I support that. But we need to…we don’t want to leave people behind.”
“I’ve met with ACCE many, many times. So, if there was a misunderstanding, it’s because there’s a lot of issues I’ve met with ACCE about,” Burgis said.
“There’s no plans. She’s correct. We don’t have any solutions. We need commitments,” she continued. “We’re all ready to lean in. But it’s just what has been communicated is Antioch needs to make a commitment. I feel very encouraged about what Lamar has presented. I’m looking forward to it being voted on by the city council and funded.”
Board member Mayor Young of Tracy said, “We’re here, now, at this point, for solutions. My first meeting ever hearing about this was last March, as well. The discussion was about decommissioning.”
“We’re here as a board that deals with a whole rail line, not just one station,” she continued. “We sit on multiple transportation boards and we’re fighting for our communities, all the time.”
“What I petition for you all is that you’re working as passionately and diligently within Antioch,” Young said. “We have very current safety concerns. There are different places that have issues. But this right here focuses on Antioch. We’re at a starting point of solutions. The bottom line is you want to keep your stop in Antioch.”
“We want to make sure we’re on the same page as solutions,” she continued. “Believe me we’re hearing from the community. We’re not going to get into your own personal things with your city. What you do to help support that station…when you stand up for your area…you all have to be that powerful voice where it matters for your city.”
“Help us help you. Encourage the plan. Because this is going to save our station,” Young stated. “Then we’ll have something to go to BNSF.”
“We’re here because we hear you. The faster you get things done…let’s get things done, together. Support your own city. Make sure people aren’t defecating on the handle so they don’t have to call out the hazmat team. Help us help you,” she reiterated.
Board member and Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesasaid, “I appreciate him going to take it to council. I think that was the understanding when he met with Chair Hume and Member Young. I’m a party to most of these decisions along the way. It boils down to me as a safety issue. For us to do otherwise without a commitment…Supervisor Burgis has said it once, twice to me, she wants to keep the station open. You have my commitment to listen. We want to keep the station open. The question is, ‘can we keep the station open?’ Help me help you.”
“Your voices were heard, today,” said acting Board Chair Espinosa. “I ran for this board to protect my community in Hanford. It takes an elected official to promote your city. If you can prove to us you have ridership that meets the demand, we’ll keep it open.”
Board member and Madera County Supervisor Leticia Gonzalez said, “I echo all of the comments. I am committed. I actually spoke to Mayor Lamar Thorpe on March 23rd. I was recently assigned to this commission. Safety is of major concern to all us. I am committed to working toward a solution for all of us.”
Conclusion: Formation of Working Group, Commitment from City Council
In an attempt to wrap up discussion on the matter, Mortensen then said, “We wanted to hear everything you shared, today. It’s welcome. The fight is needed. Moving forward we are committed…always being future focused is our motto. I will propose something to you…if you are comfortable. Everyone wants to go out of here with an active path. Would you consider setting up a committee…with a member of this board or whatever number you think, a member from the Antioch City Council, the Pittsburg City Council and member of the public? It’s just a thought to ensure further dialogue. If we could do it, together, fight it out, together, realize what we could do, together.”
“I think that’s a great idea. I would recommend that,” Burgis said.
Young also supported the proposal.
“OK. I will take that direction,” Mortensen responded.
“He can do his own plan. You would have a multi-disciplined group…in concert with that plan. It will take the council a couple meetings to hear a concept.”
Hernandez-Thorpe said, “I was under the impression I was going to get feedback from this board today on this plan. I’m all for the committee. But I want to stay focused on what I came here for. This is my proposal. I’m here for this.”
“They also want Amtrak involved. We can give so much input. But it’s really coming from the operators,” Burgis said.
“I know you need to understand if that’s a good enough plan to go forward with something,” Young said.
Smith said, “I would recommend we reconvene a meeting with your chief and the Amtrak Inspector…because what you presented today was more than what we heard earlier this week.”
“Just to make sure. We’ll have the meeting then I will present this to the council,” Hernandez-Thorpe asked.
“Yes,” SJJPA staff responded.
“I like the committee idea because it creates an institutional structure,” the mayor said. “I doesn’t have to be formal.”
“I do think the component of having city council buy-in and backing it up with a budget…that’s what will move things along,” Burgis stated.
“To keep the station open if we have to make investments, that’s what we’ll do,” Hernandez-Thorpe said. “I understand the public feels they’ve been misled. Trust is always going to be an issue.”
“I’d like to envision…that we are putting more people on trains and that they are using it to go to work, and more people are going west…to keep more people from cars on the road,” Burgis added.
“As you’re investing…for the community to invest in this treasure you’re trying to develop in downtown,” Young shared.
“I asked for a delay in decommissioning the station so we could present a plan,” the mayor responded. “Now, we have the opportunity to present a plan. It will include investments, as well.”
The SJJPA board then moved on to other business on the meeting agenda.
Following the meeting, Hernandez-Thorpe was asked for a copy of his proposed plan which he will be presenting to the city council next month. In addition, questions were sent to both Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Interim Police Chief Brian Addington asking for details from their meeting with Smith. None of them responded prior to publication time.
UPDATE 1: Later, Chief Addington said he and Reed met with Smith via Zoom on Tuesday, Sept. 17th and that he spoke with her about the need for increased safety, with possible private security at and near the station. For any other matters discussed during their meeting he left up to the city manager to share.
