Blame mainly rests with San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority staff and board members

Antioch Public Works Department staff knew of closure in spring 2022 five months before city manager and mayor, but failed to inform them or other councilmembers

Former Antioch CM Con Johnson claims he informed Hernandez-Thorpe six months before SJJPA Board vote, says mayor directed him to not tell any councilmembers, neither informed public

SJJPA staff now says, “decommissioning is some 2.5 to 3 years out” instead of the end of 2025 and it’s “too early to coordinate options with regional transit agencies.”

Mayor to present plan to keep station opened at Friday SJJPA Board meeting before council has seen or approved it

By Allen D. Payton

On May 22, 2024, a rally was held at the Antioch Amtrak station location at 100 I Street at the corner of W. First Street, along the waterfront in the City’s historic Rivertown District, by community members affiliated with Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Action and other organizations and attended by Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson and District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, to raise awareness about the impending closure. The councilwoman, in whose district the station is located, was quoted in a Local News Matters report saying, “I think someone needs to own up to this. I think somewhere the ball was dropped,” without naming anyone.

In an effort to both understand what occurred, who caused it and how to reverse the decision to close the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop, as it is officially known, a months-long investigation by the Herald resulted in the first article entitled, “Whodunnit? No proof any city staff member approved Antioch’s Amtrak station closure” was published in July. This article serves as a follow up, includes further research and reveals Torres-Walker is correct that “the ball was dropped” and it was mainly due to a lack of communication by the staff and board of directors of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), which governs the Amtrak San Joaquins Passenger Rail service between Bakersfield and Oakland and runs through Antioch. They failed to adequately inform the City of Antioch staff and council and the Tri Delta Transit staff and board.

In addition, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and then-City Manager Cornelius “Con” Johnson also dropped the ball by not informing the council members or the public prior to the vote on March 24, 2023, by the SJJPA Board of Directors to decommission the station, preventing Antioch and other East County residents from knowing about the vote and providing them the opportunity to speak out against it. The mayor repeatedly blamed former Antioch City Manager Ron Bernal, his opponent in the current mayoral election, for approving the closure, which the Herald’s first article on the matter proved to be false.

Finally, someone in the Antioch Public Works Department knew about the station closure in spring 2022 and dropped the ball by failing to either inform the city manager or council members at that time five or six months before Johnson was first informed of the impending SJJPA Board vote the following spring.

SJJPA Spokesman Claims “Discussions Regarding…Challenges in Antioch Began in 2017” City Staff Not Informed of Closure Until Fall 2022

According to the news report about the May 2024 rally, “David Lipari of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, which works in collaboration with SJJPA, said discussions regarding the challenges in Antioch began in 2017.”  Yet, nowhere in any documentation provided in response to Public Records Act (PRA) requests to the SJJPA, City of Antioch, Tri Delta Transit and a federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Amtrak, does it show any member of the Antioch City Council or staff knew about the proposed closure until January 2023.

Further research revealed the first time SJJPA staff informed any Antioch city manager of the station closure or decommissioning was in September 2022, during the first of three meetings between SJJPA Director of Rail Services, Tamika Smith, and then-City Manager Cornelius “Con” Johnson.

Johnson, in turn, informed Hernandez-Thorpe following that meeting and in January Johnson and then-Antioch Police Chief Steve Ford were preparing a presentation for the SJJPA Board meeting on January 25, 2023, after the mayor told Johnson he should provide it. That presentation and the proposed vote to close the station were postponed until the regular board meeting on March 24, 2023. But with Johnson being placed on administrative leave the week before, as previously reported, the mayor provided the presentation instead.

SJJPA Staff First Discussed Closure in 2021

That’s all in spite of the fact the first record of a discussion about a possible Antioch station closure was in emails between SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen and her staff members in June 2021. One of those emails revealed that a previous discussion of a possible closure had occurred, so, at least one or more of the SJJPA staff members knew closing the Antioch station was a possibility.

It’s also in spite of the fact that at that time SJJPA staff knew the policy of BNSF rail, which owns the tracks, was to not have stations too close together and that the location of the planned station in Oakley, just six miles away, was too close. Thus, another station had to be closed. Since problems continued at and around the Antioch station, including assaults on train conductors, calls for service to the Antioch Police and Amtrak Police for other crimes, fare evasion and homelessness, the Antioch-Pittsburg stop was an easy target.

Questions for SJJPA Executive Director Go Unanswered

Questions were emailed to Mortensen on August 19, 2024, asking the following: “Why did your agency not inform Tri Delta Transit about the possible decommissioning, whose board was voting for improvements to support the opening of the Oakley Station, and that it required the closure of the Antioch Station?

With whom did your staff, specifically then-Senior Planner David Ripperda, then-Director of Capital Projects Kevin Sheridan and/or SJJPA spokesman David Lipari discuss the closure of the Antioch station prior to your emails in June 2021?”

She was asked to provide copies of those communications and if they were by virtual meetings or phone calls, please include her and/or her staff’s notes from them and any and all emails about the Oakley and/or Antioch stations with BNSF.

Mortensen was shown the three emails about the matter between her and Ripperda, copied to other staff members and asked, “Did you ever find out ‘where the conversation with BN went after that’? What was the outcome? Did any member of your staff ever communicate in any way with any members of the City of Antioch Public Works Department between June 2021 and May 2022 about the decommissioning of the Antioch station? If so, what was said and how was it communicated?

She was informed that while the Herald was not provided with copies of any email communications about the closure of the station with anyone in that city department, it appears during that time period someone in that department was made aware of the possible station closure. That’s because language referring to the Amtrak station in previous years’ 5-Year Capital Improvement Program budgets, was removed for the 2022-27 CIP presented as a Draft to the city council in May 2022. But the Public Works Director at that time no longer works for the City of Antioch.

Mortensen was reminded that the staff report for the agenda item for the vote included misinformation that a previous Antioch city manager approved the decommissioning, which caused a political firestorm in Antioch because that former city manager, Ron Bernal, is now running for mayor against the incumbent who assumed he was the person to which Tamika Smith referred in her staff report. She was then provided with a link to the previous Herald article about the Antioch station decommissioning and it was pointed out to her that Smith never mentioned Bernal’s name and it was only mentioned by the mayor.

Mortensen was also reminded that her board members were never provided any documentation supporting the claim that a previous city manager or any City of Antioch staff member approved the closure, nor were given council direction to support it, before the board voted.

She was then asked, “why wouldn’t any of the board or your staff members question that, ask if that city manager was directed to support the decommissioning by the council and ask for the City of Antioch to provide a copy of the council resolution supporting it, before the board vote? Had they known the facts might one of them have voted differently and the decommissioning not move forward, since it only passed by the minimum number of votes?”

Mortensen was then reminded about the emails between Bernal and her following the March 24, 2023, board meeting in which he both denied ever approving the decommissioning and asking for Mortensen to correct the record. In her email response to him she wrote, “My understanding from the various parties was that the City had reluctantly agreed to the closure if the new landscaping and improvements (associated with the building removal) was not maintained and passenger and train crew safety issues did not improve. Somehow that did get attributed to you over the last couple years and if that is not accurate, I most certainly want to correct the record.” 

Yet, there is no written record to support that “understanding” provided in response to the Herald’s PRA requests. Mortensen was asked if she does have it to provide it.

She was then asked, “at a subsequent SJJPA board meeting did she ‘correct the record’ by issuing a public apology to Bernal and announcing that the information in the staff report was incorrect? If so, please provide the date of the board meeting at which it occurred and a link to the video. If not, will you do that at the board meeting on Sept. 20th in Martinez?”

It was pointed out to Mortensen in the Herald article, that Bernal says he only approved the demolition of the building at the station and there are records of that, and that it was the current Oakley City Manager who approved the decommissioning of the Antioch station, and that it appears her staff misunderstood and confused the two matters of the demolition and the decommission.

Mortensen was then asked regarding the matter of one of the reasons for closure, “why is BNSF claiming a six-mile distance between stations as their reason for the Antioch station closure when the Emeryville and Oakland stations are less than five miles apart?”

Because it appears there has been a serious lack of communication between SJJPA staff and the affected agencies regarding both the closure of the Antioch station and opening of the Oakley Station and there’s been significant turnover in both her staff and City of Antioch staff over the past few years, Mortensen was asked, “Who specifically on your staff is responsible for communicating with the other agencies about the closure of the Antioch station and the opening of the Oakley station? Do you have copies of any communication with Amtrak and/or BNSF about the two stations before or since the board vote? Do you have a copy of the BNSF policy about their distance requirements between stations? If so, she was asked to please provide them.

SJJPA Staff Member Responds Instead

Rather than answer the questions, Mortensen had Ariana Talosig, the Administrative Analyst for the Board and Committee respond. She wrote, “As stated in prior emails, we have reviewed our files and provided documentation in our possession regarding the decommissioning of the Antioch Station and a statement of the Agency’s position concerning the same.  In response to your specific question regarding outreach to transit agencies serving the area, because decommissioning is some 2.5 to 3 years out, it is too early to coordinate options with regional transit agencies.”

In addition, that same day, Talosig wrote, “The following is in response to your public records request dated June 15, 2024, for the following: “PRA request and additional questions on the closure of the Antioch Amtrak station.”

Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, SJRRC has located no additional records responsive to your request.

SJRRC will now consider your request closed. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the undersigned.

Thank you.”

Request for Copies of Notes from Virtual Meetings, Phone and Conference Calls Go Unfulfilled

In response because the original PRA request was for communications between agencies, not copies of notes of virtual meetings, and phone or conference calls Talosig was emailed the following: “While there may not be any additional emails to fulfill my request, perhaps there are notes by SJJPA staff from phone calls or virtual meetings with City of Antioch staff about the closure, specifically with anyone in the City’s Public Works Department and more specifically with Scott Buenting, and between June 2021 and May 2022, or any other agency staff member, including Amtrak and BNSF.

Please check with former Senior Planner David Ripperda, former Director of Capital Projects Kevin Sheridan and SJJPA spokesman David Lipari if they had any conversations like that. 

Also, it would be appreciated if you can please find out to whom Mr. Ripperda was referring when he wrote ‘discussions about closing Antioch’ in his June 25, 2021, email to Ms. Mortensen.”

More Questions for SJJPA Staff Go Unsanswered

In addition, on August 21st, Talosig was asked many of the same questions posed to Mortensen and a few new ones. She was asked, “Are you claiming that no member of the SJJPA staff took typed or handwritten notes from virtual meetings or phone or conference calls when speaking with anyone else about the possible closure of the Antioch Amtrak station? How does your staff and organization operate, based on memory? Surely that’s not the case.

If you have no records of notes on any communications with anyone on the City of Antioch staff (or any other agency) prior to the emails between Tamika Smith and then-City Manager Johnson in August 2022, about the closure of the Antioch station, even though your top staff claimed to have discussed the matter prior to the emails dated June 25, 2021, then please find out among whom those discussions were held for which they took and kept no notes and left them in the files of the authority. 

Also, what you shared is different than what was previously shared by Manager of Administration Jaclyn Miramontes who wrote, “The estimated date for Oakley is Q4 of 2025” which is a year away, not “some 2.5 to 3 years out.” Has the date since been changed? If so, when and by whom?

Finally, Talosig was asked, “why on such a major issue, did your agency staff not inform the local media in Antioch about the impending board vote at least a week before the meeting so the public could have been informed and could have spoken on the matter during public comments? Will you now adopt that as a policy and practice for the future for communities affected by board votes?”

Talosig responded on Aug. 27th with a few more documents showing emails between current Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Tamika Smith from Jan. 26th this year. She provided information in response to a question asked during a recent Antioch City Council meeting about the wheelchair lift writing it, “is in place and has been for months, it was previously stolen but is now in place and ready for use. Reed responded by asking her for a time “to discuss the parameters around the decision to close the station.”

But nothing showing any additional documentation about the station closure, who knew about it when and to whom anyone from the SJJPA spoke about it.

Talosig again wrote, “SJRRC will now consider your request closed. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the undersigned.”

She was asked to follow up with Mortensen to obtain answers to the questions posed to her but there has been no further response.

December 2021 Email Thread Shows Discussion of Double Tracking Between Martinez and Antioch

However, one new email thread dated December 13, 2021, was provided in response to the Herald’s latest PRA request to the SJJPA. It shows a brief conversation between then-Senior Planner Paul Herman and Daniel Hartman, a Project Manager at AECOM, an infrastructure consulting firm.

Herman wrote, “We are in discussions with BNSF about the upcoming TIRCP application and I wanted to get a preliminary cost estimate from you for a potential project we are looking at to open up additional double tracking between Martinez and Antioch for the San Joaquins. The project would include a new universal crossover track at CP West Pittsburg between BNSF Stockton Sub and UP Tracy Sub and upgrading of the UP Tracy Sub track from Port Chicago to CP West Pittsburg. The UP track I believe needs PTC and to be upgraded from 40mph to 79mph. This isn’t an urgent item, but I wanted to get it on your radar now so that we can have this information ready in January. If you have some time later this week it may be good for us to do a quick 30 minute session looking at the location and talking the request through.”

TIRCP refers to the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. PTC stands for Positive Train Control systems which, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, “are designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, incursions into established work zones, and movements of trains through switches left in the wrong position.”

But only double tracking east to the future Oakley station could help keep the Antioch station open.

Amtrak Has No Documentation of Discussions on Station Decommissioning

On July 25, 2024, an Amtrak FOIA Officer responded to the request on July 10th for copies of any and all communications between Amtrak staff and the following agencies / company regarding the closure / decommissioning of the Antioch Amtrak station between January 1, 2019 and March 30, 2023: San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, including Stacey Mortensen, David Riperda, Tamika Smith, David Lipari, Paul Herman, Autumn Gowan, Kevin Sheridan, and any others, plus, the City of Antioch, City of Oakley and BNSF Railway. (Date Range for Record Search: From 1/1/2019 To 3/30/2023). 

Rebecca Conner, Manager, Records and Information Management wrote, “We have no records responsive to this request.  Amtrak does not own the station in question.”

A new FOIA request was then submitted on Aug. 19, 2024, asking for copies of any and all communications between Amtrak staff and the following agencies / company regarding the Oakley Amtrak station between January 1, 2019 and March 30, 2023: San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, including Stacey Mortensen, David Riperda, Tamika Smith, David Lipari, Paul Herman, Autumn Gowan, Kevin Sheridan, and any others, plus, the City of Antioch, City of Oakley and BNSF Railway.

There had to have been at least some communication between Amtrak Police and SJJPA staff prior to their board meeting on March 24, 2023, because the SJJPA staff report and presentation on the item regarding the closure of the Antioch station included information on Amtrak Police calls for service at the Antioch station.

Conner was also asked, “Are you claiming Amtrak was never made aware of the station closure before the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority board voted for it on March 24, 2023? Which Amtrak staff members currently work with the SJJPA on the San Joaquins line that serves Antioch? Which staff members worked with them in 2021?” She was reminded that Tamika Smith worked there as the Senior Director, State Supported Services through March 2021 and was asked to provide their contact information, as well.

Conner responded on Aug. 21st, “We do not release names of staff members below the Executive Vice President (EVP) level. You are welcome to file an appeal, but I searched Amtrak for the responsive records and was told what I told you.”

She was then asked, “Even to the media? Are they not allowed to speak with someone from the media?” Conner was then asked to speak with those staff members to determine which of them communicated with SJJPA staff and City of Antioch staff and provide what was discussed and when.

She was also asked, “Do you still have access to Tamika Smith’s emails from when she worked there? Are you required to save email communications from previous staff after they no longer work for Amtrak?”

Because it’s important for both the public, as well as our local and federal elected officials to know, Conner was then asked to find out and ask those who did and/or do work with SJJPA, “Are you claiming Amtrak was never made aware of the Antioch station closure before the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority board voted for it on March 24, 2023?”

She was asked how and to whom to file an appeal and if Amtrak will have a representative at the Sept. 20 meeting of the SJJPA Board to answer questions from the public and/or board members.

Additional Information Requested

Later, the following was added to the second FOIA request: “any notes, written or typed, from any virtual meetings and/or phone or conference calls with any of the following, discussing either the Antioch station or Oakley station between January 1, 2019 and March 30, 2023: San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, including Stacey Mortensen, David Riperda, Tamika Smith, David Lipari, Paul Herman, Autumn Gowan, Kevin Sheridan, and any others, plus, the City of Antioch, City of Oakley and BNSF Railway.”

Conner responded on Aug. 22nd, “I sent you the only information we have on the Antioch closing” and suggested I communicate further with Olivia Irvin, Senior Public Relations Manager for Amtrak. She responded on Aug. 26th requesting the questions be sent to her. However, an email to her from the Herald with questions to Irvin hoping for a response before this Friday’s SJJPA Board meeting was discovered in this reporter’s Drafts folder on Wednesday night, Sept. 18. Nevertheless, the same questions posed to Conner were sent to her at that time.

Antioch Public Works Department Staff Knew of Closure by May 2022

According to current Acting Public Works Director Scott Buenting, someone informed him by May 2022 that the station was planned to be closed. That’s why the justification for the grant funding sought for the L Street Improvements project in the annual City of Antioch Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget for that year was changed. The language that had been included in previous years’ budgets referring to the Amtrak station was removed from the 2022-27 Draft CIP presented to the city council that month.

That year’s CIP was approved the following month by the council members without the language change for the L Street improvements being mentioned by either staff nor questions asked about it by the council members, during the May 24th meeting when the Draft 5-Year CIP was first presented nor during the June 14, 2022, meeting when the council adopted it.

Buenting was the Project Manager for the L Street Improvements project, and his name was listed on the project’s detail sheet in each year’s CIP since 2018. Then-Public Works Director John Samuelson’s name did not appear in any emails from the PRA request responses, but Buenting’s name did appear, dating back to the discussions of the station building demolition in 2019.

The agenda item, #SM-1, for the May 24, 2022, council meeting, for which District 2 Councilman and then-Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barbanica was absent, reads, “It is recommended that the City Council review and provide feedback to staff regarding the draft 5-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 2022-2027.”

When asked by Hernandez-Thorpe about the L Street Improvements project being partially funded, Buenting said, “we do have some grant funding. We will be moving forward with a portion of this project.” In response to the mayor asking, “So, we’re still $9 million short?” Buenting replied, “Yes.” Hernandez-Thorpe then said, “A decade later and we’re still talking about grants.” Buenting responded, “We are somewhat limited to the types of funding we can use for these projects. Grants are the best way to go. But I’m sure we can look into providing some additional options.”

But there was no mention by Buenting or Samuelson, who was in attendance at the meeting, nor were there any questions from the mayor or city council members about the language change in the CIP, eliminating the Amtrak station as justification for the L Street Improvements project grant funds.

(See the 44:00 mark of council meeting video)

During the June 14, 2022, meeting, with the mayor absent and no discussion among or questions from council members, the CIP, item 7 on the agenda, was adopted on a 4-0 vote. (See 3:47:15 mark of council meeting video)

Samuelson, who now works for the City of Pittsburg, did not return phone calls about the matter.

Informed in Spring 2022 at Least Five Months Before City Manager Informed

However, after multiple efforts, when finally reached on Thursday, Sept. 19th, Buenting was asked if the language was changed due to the requirement that the grant funding was no longer tied to transit or if he was told the station would be closing. He explained that the change in the project justification language in the 2022-27 CIP for the L Street Improvements project was due to being informed of the Amtrak station’s impending closure.

“A lot of these conversations I wasn’t privy to,” Buenting stated when asked when he was informed and by whom. “I know that I heard that the Amtrak station was going to close in a meeting somehow. I know it wasn’t from the SJJPA. But I had knowledge of it, and I tried to clean things up in the CIP. I don’t remember when I heard the information.”

“There is a path to transit associated with this,” Buenting continued. “There is the ferry stop. We have transit with TriDelta. That’s what I was making my changes to.” So the grant funding for the L Street Improvements will still meet the requirement that it be tied to transit.

Asked if he would look in his and the department’s files for any notes from any phone or online meeting conversations about the Antioch station closure between June 2021 and May 2022 he responded, “I’ll look and the information will probably be with the city engineer at the time.” (That was Samuelson).

“I know it wasn’t me who had the conversation. I do not recall where I got it,” Buenting reiterated

Johnson Says He Immediately Informed Hernandez-Thorpe in Fall 2022, Says Mayor Directed Him to Not Tell Any Councilmember, Especially Barbanica and Ogorchock, Called them “Racist Karens”

But it wasn’t until September 2022 that then-City Manager Cornelious “Con” Johnson was informed of the Amtrak station closure by SJJPA staff. Following publication of the Herald’s first article about the closure, when did city staff know about it and who approved it, questions were emailed on Thursday, July 18, 2024, to the five council members and Con Johnson:

The councilmembers were asked, “when did you learn the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority was going to vote on closing the Antioch Amtrak station at either their January or March 2023 board meeting?”

Johnson was asked, “did you inform the other four council members at the time you informed the mayor after learning of the proposed closure by Tamika Smith of the SJJPA in September 2022?

Hernandez-Thorpe was asked, “once you learned of it from Con, did you inform the other council members or ask him to do so?”

The councilmembers were also asked, “were you aware that Con and Chief Ford were preparing a presentation for the SJJPA Board meeting in January 2023 and Were you aware the mayor was going to give the presentation at their March 2023 meeting?”

Johnson responded, “Once the SJJPA representative, Ms. Tamika Smith, notified me in September, I immediately contacted and informed Mayor Thorpe. In this matter, Mayor Thorpe was responsible for informing the remaining council members.”

“According to Mayor’s Thorpe’s strict directive to me and other department heads, all administrative matters had to go through and be approved by Mayor Thorpe,” the former city manager continued. “Mayor Thorpe directed me not to notify any council member, especially Councilmembers Michael Barbanica and Lori Ogorchock, who he referred to as ‘racist Karens’ without first seeking his approval. However, it was always my position to notify all the council members in accordance with city ordinances. Mayor Thorpe inferred, meddled and undermined the city manger’s responsibility on a daily basis.”

“In the SJJPA Amtrak closure matter, I informed and updated Mayor Thorpe on all administrative activities,” Johnson stated. “Mayor Thorpe was the sole arbiter, and he exclusively decided what information I should forward to the other city council members.”

“In the matter of council notifications, I don’t know if Mayor Thorpe later notified the other council members as requested by me on the SJJPA tentative decision to close the Antioch Amtrak station,” Johnson shared. “As previously stated, I notified Mayor Thorpe and City Attorney Thomas L. Smith during our weekly face-to-face meetings.”

“On March 17, 2023, the council unanimously voted to place me on administrative leave without either cause or justification. All city manager’s responsibilities were then transferred to the Community Development Director, Forrest Ebb,” the former city manager continued. “While on administrative leave, I was prohibited from making contact with the mayor, city council, city department directors and city staff. Mayor Thorpe, at no point or time, notified or informed me he was going to take over the responsibility of facilitating the previously scheduled presentation at the SJJPA Board meeting on March 24, 2023.”

“It is equally important that Mayor Thorpe was not authorized to give such a presentation because it was the sole responsibility of the city manager, since this matter was an administrative function,” Johnson added.

Only Ogorchock and Barbanica responded.

At Least Two Councilmembers Uninformed of Impending Station Closure Vote, Say They Found Out Through Rumor

Ogorchock responded, “I had no forewarning of the closure of the Amtrak station in Antioch.  I received an email just before the SJJPA’s meeting and happened to open it and saw that our station was on the agenda for closure.  I was in Mexico and logged into the Zoom meeting and listened to the portion of the meeting discussing our closure. Since I was not informed prior to this meeting I was not prepared to comment on this item.  Plus, being out of the country my network was not stable.”

“I had no idea any of this was happening. We were, at least I was, not aware of any presentation that Lamar was planning on giving,” she added.

When reached for comment, Barbanica said, “Con never told me. I’ve been trying to think back of how I learned of it. I know it was not from the city manager, at the time. He did not reveal the information to me. It wasn’t Lamar. If anything, it was mentioned in open session. I think it was an off the cuff comment. Con didn’t tell me about it, nor Lamar told me before I learned more about it through city gossip, not through city channels that it had occurred.”

“I don’t recall Lamar ever reaching out to me,” the District 3 councilman reiterated. “I do remember Lamar mentioning it in public. But that was after it was out to the public. I was never informed by the city or the mayor, anything formal this was occurring. As I recall, when I learned of it initially was through public rumor.”

More Questions for Hernandez-Thorpe Go Unanswered

Johnson’s emailed response was then sent to Hernandez-Thorpe with questions about. The mayor was asked if what the then-city manager said is correct that he immediately notified Hernandez-Thorpe after learning in Sept. 2022 from SJJPA’s Tamika Smith of the proposed closure of the Antioch Amtrak station. The mayor was also asked if what Johnson is also claiming correct that Hernandez-Thorpe directed him to not tell Barbanica and Ogorchock and if he referred to them as “racist Karens” as the reason given the city manager to keep the two council members uniformed.

The mayor was then asked if, as Johnson is claiming, he decided what information the city manager should forward to the other city council members about the Amtrak station closure and other matters, and if Hernandez-Thorpe had given Johnson and other department heads a ‘strict directive’ that all administrative matters had to go through and be approved by the mayor.

Informed that both council members said that he never informed them of the proposed Antioch Amtrak station closure and about the presentation he was preparing to make to the SJJPA Board of Directors, the mayor was asked why not and again, why he didn’t inform the public about it so they could attend the meeting either in person or online to speak against the closure.

But Hernandez-Thorpe did not respond.

Mayor Now Claims He Has Assurances from Board Chair & Member to Keep Station Open, Will Present Plan

As previously reported, last week, Hernandez-Thorpe posted an announcement on his campaign website that he had found a “Path Forward to Keep Antioch Amtrak Station Open” following a September 9th meeting with the chair and a member of the board. However, SJJPA spokesman David Lippari said the “discussion…does not alter the SJJPA board decision” last year to decommission the station.

In his announcement, the mayor wrote, “My office and city staff will develop a plan that I will present to the SJJPA on September 20, 2024, and to the City Council in early October.”

Lippari shared that a, “An information item regarding the Antioch Station has been agendized for the SJJPA board meeting on September 20, 2024.” That agenda item is number 5, listed as Information and entitled, “Antioch Station History and Update,” which will be provided by SJJPA Executive Director Mortensen.

At Least Two Councilmembers Not Informed of Proposed Plan to Keep Station Open

The other four council members were asked on Thursday, Sept. 19th if the mayor or Acting City Manager Reed had informed them of the proposed plan to keep the Amtrak station open. Only Ogorchock and Barbanica responded and both said, “No”.

SJJPA Board Meeting

The joint powers authority Board of Directors meeting will be held this Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Contra Costa County Administration Building in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1025 Escobar Street in Martinez. The public will have the opportunity to speak. See the complete meeting agenda packet. To watch the meeting via Zoom, please see instructions, here: SJJPA September 20, 2024 Board Meeting – San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Will present City’s plan to SJJPA Board of Directors during Friday morning meeting in Martinez

SJJPA staff says “discussion…does not alter the SJJPA board decision” to decommission station

By Allen D. Payton

As previously reported, last year, the Board of Directors of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority which oversees the operation of the Amtrak line that runs to and through Antioch voted to decommission the station. Last week, Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe posted an announcement on his campaign website that he had found a “Path Forward to Keep Antioch Amtrak Station Open” following a September 9th meeting with the chair and member of the board. However, SJJPA spokesman David Lippari said the “discussion…does not alter the SJJPA board decision” last year to decommission the station.

The announcement reads, “After a great meeting with the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC), I’m happy to announce that the Authority and Commission have assured me that we are now on a path to keeping the Antioch Amtrak station open.

Although I am optimistic, we must continue to support keeping the station open. I want to thank SJJPA Chair Pat Hume and SJRRC Chair Nancy Young for visiting the Antioch station yesterday and meeting with city staff and me regarding this important matter. 

My office and city staff will develop a plan that I will present to the SJJPA on September 20, 2024, and to the City Council in early October.”

Questions for Mayor, Acting City Manager and SJJPA Staff

Questions were sent to both the mayor and Acting City Manager Kwame Reed about the meeting and for details of the proposed plan asking. They were asked which city staff members were in the meeting and what assurances were given by Directors Hume and Young.

Neither the mayor nor Reed responded prior to publication time.

SJJPA staff were also asked to verify what the mayor shared and for the details of the assurances provided by the board members.

SJJPA Says No Change to Station Closure Plans

In response, Lipari, the SJJPA’s Director of Passenger Experience and Communications, provided the following “statement related to ongoing discussions with the city of Antioch: The SJJPA and the City of Antioch had a recent discussion regarding the future of the Antioch Station. The discussion, which included some members of the SJJPA board leadership and executive team, does not alter the SJJPA board decision but was focused on topics of safety at and around the station. An information item regarding the Antioch Station has been agendized for the SJJPA board meeting on September 20, 2024.”

The agenda item is number 5, listed as Information and entitled, “Antioch Station History and Update”, which will be provided by SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen.

That information was provided to the mayor and Reed in a further effort asking them to provide what assurances they were given about keeping the station open during last week’s meeting.

The joint powers authority Board of Directors meeting will be held this Friday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Contra Costa County Administration Building in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1025 Escobar Street in Martinez. The public will have the opportunity to speak. See the complete meeting agenda packet. To watch the meeting via Zoom, please see instructions, here: SJJPA September 20, 2024 Board Meeting – San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority.

In July, the Antioch City Council voted to adopt a resolution and send a letter to the SJJPA Board opposing the station closure. Friday will be the first opportunity to hear from the board members following receipt of the Council’s letter and for them to hear from the public since their vote to decommission the station and to discuss the City’s proposal to keep it open.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Making Transit Work for the Region — Now and In The Future

September is Transit Month

Join MTC and SPUR online and attend a webinar to learn about progress on two regional initiatives — Transit 2050+ and Transit Priority Improvements.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024 – 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Transit 2050+ is the region’s first connected network plan for Bay Area Transit and is also a key component of Plan Bay Area, the region’s sustainable community strategy and regional transportation plan. Unlike prior versions of the Regional Transportation Plan, Transit 2050+ focuses on the overall transit network of the Bay Area and prioritizes near term improvements to transit service, speed and reliability.

MTC is working with transit agencies and with Caltrans, cities and counties to plan and implement Transit Priority Improvements, infrastructure that increases the speed and reliability of Bay Area buses and light rail trains.

Staff from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) will provide an update on Transit 2050+’s progress and will also talk about the plan’s relationship to ongoing work expanding and accelerating transit priority projects across the region.

About SPUR

SPUR — the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association — is a nonprofit public policy organization. We bring people together from across the political spectrum to develop solutions to the big problems cities face. Based in San Francisco, San José, and Oakland, we are recognized as a leading civic planning organization and respected for our independent and holistic approach to urban issues.

About MTC

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission was created by the California Legislature in 1970 to plan, finance and coordinate the Bay Area’s transportation system. The Commission’s scope over the years has expanded to address other regional issues, including housing and development.

MTC provides planning, funding, coordination and technical assistance to the Bay Area’s 101 cities and nine counties, plus, transit agencies and other partners to bring the region together — to make life better for residents and make the Bay Area’s transportation system more resilient to future challenges.

Register for the event here.

Presented by the CA Office of Traffic Safety, CA Department of Transportation & iHeart Media

Entry deadline: Aug. 29

WHAT: The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) are teaming up with iHeartMedia to announce a statewide contest for a chance to win up to $500 in cash gift cards and prizes. To enter, participants will share with us how they are a traffic safety champion and make a commitment to safe road behaviors. This contest is only open to individuals who are legal U.S. residents of the State of California. Any participants ages 14 and up can enter the contest. For participants under the age of 18 years old, a parent/guardian must sign the registration form.

WHY: Twelve people are killed on California roads every day. The roads are shared by drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, electric scooters, and other mobility assistance devices such as wheelchairs. When we’re on the road, every action we take gets us to a safer place. Safe roads depend on all of us. The objective is to encourage others to share how they watch out for one another as we start a movement for safer roads together.

WHEN: Contest and submission period: Now through 11:59 p.m. PDT on August 29, 2024.

Winner notification: September 2024/Public Winner Announcement: September 2024.

WHERE: Visit the Go Safely California website for more details and to enter today! https://gosafelyca.org/safer-roads-contest/

WHO: The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS)

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

*All prizes courtesy of iHeartMedia

Plus, other required mitigations for traffic impacts all paid for by developer, expected to be completed this fall

By Allen D. Payton

For those who live or work in East County and haven’t driven on Buchanan Road west of Somersville Road in Antioch, lately, you might not be aware the road is being widened to accommodate a new home development. Seeno Homes’ Tivoli at Tuscany Meadows in Pittsburg will include 917 single family homes and 365 multi-family units on 135.6 acres surrounding the Chevron property. The development was approved in 2015 and 2016 and has some residents concerned about traffic impacts. City of Pittsburg staff say all the mitigations that were proposed in the plans are being implemented. They include widening Buchanan Road to four lanes plus, turn lanes between Somersville Road in Antioch and Meadows Avenue in Pittsburg, as well as nearby affected roads and intersections.

The project will also include an internal collector street, labeled Sequoia Drive, which will connect and provide the new residents access to Somersville Road in Antioch. But the main street in the new development, labeled Tuscany Meadows Drive, will not connect to James Donlon Blvd. using Metcalf Street in Antioch until the long-planned James Donlon Blvd. extension to Kirker Pass Road in Pittsburg is completed. But that project is currently on hold, according to city staff.

City staff also shared, all the mitigations for traffic impacts are being paid for by the developer.

According to the Project Description in the Draft Environmental Impact Report, “Historically the project site was used as an above-ground crude oil tank farm owned by Chevron USA, Inc. However, the tanks and associated piping were removed from the site in 1981.”

According to the City of Pittsburg staff report for the project, the Tuscany Meadows Residential Subdivision consists of 917 single family homes and 365 multi-family residential units on an approximately 170-acre vacant site. The site consists of two parcels bounded on the north by Buchanan Road, to the east by the Contra Costa Canal and Somersville Road, to the south by the Black Diamond Estates residential development (in Antioch), and the west by the Highlands Ranch residential development (in Pittsburg). The project site is located in what was an unincorporated area of Contra Costa County, California between the City of Antioch and the City of Pittsburg limits. In 2011, the City of Pittsburg Urban Limit Line and General Plan were amended, via voter initiative, to reflect and accommodate the proposed project area in anticipation of future annexation and development.

The land was later annexed into the Pittsburg city limits.

Traffic Impacts

According to the Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) for the project, dated July 30, 2014, the new homes “would contribute to LOS (level of service) operations exceeding the established standards at the following seven intersections: Railroad Avenue at Leland Road (Intersection #3) Buchanan Road at Harbor Street (Intersection #7) Buchanan Road at Loveridge Road (Intersection #12) Buchanan Road at Ventura Drive (Intersection #13) Buchanan Road at Tuscany Meadows Drive (Intersection #15) Buchanan Road at the Tuscany Meadows Apartments (Intersection #17) Buchanan Road at Somersville Road (Intersection #22).”

As shown in Table 5 of the TIA, entitled, “Trip Generation Calculations”, the new home development will produce almost 10,500 Average Daily Trips with most of them from the single-family homes.

Mitigation Measures

The TIA included multiple measures to mitigate the traffic impact on Buchanan Road and other nearby roads and intersections.

The report reads, “The improvements listed below are not currently included in the City’s Transportation Impact Fee Program. Prior to construction of the identified improvements the project would mitigate the above-identified impacts by either constructing the required improvements as outlined below or paying a proportionate share of the construction costs, subject to City approval. The intersection mitigations required for the project to meet the established LOS standards include the following:

Railroad Avenue at E. Leland Road – Construction of an additional southbound left-turn lane and associated widening.

Buchanan Road at Harbor Street – Widening of Buchanan Road at the intersection to allow for the construction of two through lanes on the westbound approach as well as two receiving lanes on the west side of the intersection.

Buchanan Road at Loveridge Road – Widening of Buchanan Road at the intersection to allow for the construction of two through lanes on the westbound approach as well as two receiving lanes on the west side of the intersection.

Buchanan Road at Ventura Drive – Widening of Buchanan Road at the intersection to allow for the construction of two through lanes on the eastbound approach as well as two receiving lanes on the east side of the intersection. Alternative Mitigation: Implementation of PM peak hour metering of southbound Kirker Pass Road at Pheasant Drive (the project has a significant impact in the PM peak hour only).

Buchanan Road at Tuscany Meadows Drive – Widening of Buchanan Road at the intersection to allow for the construction of two through lanes on the eastbound approach as well as two receiving lanes on the east side of the intersection. Alternative Mitigation: Relocation of control point metering to this location and implementation of PM peak hour metering of southbound Kirker Pass Road at Pheasant Drive.

Buchanan Road at the Tuscany Meadows Apartments Entrance – Widening of Buchanan Road at the intersection to allow for the construction of two through lanes on the eastbound approach as well as two receiving lanes on the east side of the intersection. Alternative Mitigation: Implementation of PM peak hour metering of southbound Kirker Pass Road at Pheasant Drive (the project has a significant impact in the PM peak hour only).

Buchanan Road at Somersville Road – Construct an additional eastbound left turn lane to allow for a dual left turn movement onto northbound Somersville Road and an additional northbound lane to allow for a dual left turn movement onto westbound Buchanan Road. Alternative Mitigation: Implementation of PM peak hour metering of southbound Kirker Pass Road at Pheasant Drive.

Beyond these intersections, the analysis indicates the project would not cause any other significant impacts to traffic operations in the area. Please note that mitigations are only proposed to address PM peak hour conditions at the signalized intersection of Buchanan Road with Tuscany Meadows Drive. No mitigations are required to address AM conditions at this intersection because, as discussed in Section 5.5, AM peak hour traffic operations on Buchanan Road are covered by a traffic management plan (TMP) which was adopted as part of the East County Action Plan.

Buchanan Road is a Route of Regional Significance

According to the 2017 East County Action Plan for Routes of Regional Significance, Buchanan Road is included in the list, “Between Somersville Road and Railroad Avenue. This route serves as a conduit for traffic from East County communities to get to Kirker Pass Road and from there to Central County. Note that Buchanan Road will no longer be designated as a Route of Regional Significance once the James Donlon Boulevard extension is constructed.”

Pittsburg Public Works Director Provides Additional Details

Questions were sent to Pittsburg Community & Economic Development Director Jordan Davis, Assistant Director John Funderburg and Planning Division Senior Planner Hector Rojas, who is the lead agency contact for the project. They were asked when the widening construction is expected to be completed, how it’s being paid for, if either from the per home developer fee imposed by the East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority (ECCRFFA) or the county’s half-cent sales tax revenue from Measure J, and which traffic mitigations were included in the approval for the project.

Finally, they were asked where things stand in the process for extending James Donlon Blvd. through the Sky Ranch II development and connecting it to Kirker Pass Road. The adjacent 163-acre, 415 home development, planned for the land south of the Tivoli at Tuscany Meadows project and west of the existing homes in Antioch, was approved in 2004 but has yet to begin construction.

Pittsburg Public Works Director John Samuelson provided the answers. He responded, “The widening of Buchanan Road is scheduled to be completed this Fall. These improvements were a condition of approval on the development and is fully funded by the developer. No ECCRFFA or Measure J funds are being used.

All mitigations identified in the traffic study were used as conditions of approval for this development project.”

James Donlon Blvd. Extension from Antioch to Kirker Pass Road on Hold

Samuelson also shared, “The James Donlon Extension Project has been put on hold. There have been some challenges with this project which has caused the City of Pittsburg to change priorities. This is still an important project for this region, and we hope to make progress once development occurs in this area.”

To learn more about new home development and other projects in the City of Pittsburg see the Community Development Department Planning division’s Current Project Pipeline at www.pittsburgca.gov/services/community-development/planning/current-project-pipeline. To learn more about the homes in the Tivoli at Tuscany Meadows development visit www.seenohomes.com/tivoli.

The Antioch Community Center in Prewett Family Park is located at 4703 Lone Tree Way. To register visit http://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp.

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 to help pay for funeral expenses.

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/