Antioch fights back to keep Amtrak station open

MARTINEZ — There may still be hope to keep the Antioch Amtrak station open, but first Antioch officials would need to develop concrete plans to address safety concerns in the station area.

The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, which oversees passenger rail in Antioch, said Antioch must present workable solutions to the station's challenges. That would allow the Joint Powers Authority to begin discussions with Amtrak and BNSF Railway, which owns the line.

At the start of the SJJPA board meeting on Friday, Tracy Mayor Nancy Young read a statement from absent Chairman Patrick Hume.

Hume said in his statement that there appeared to be some confusion during his recent meeting with Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, acting Antioch City Manager Kwame Reed and Young earlier this month. He said the decision to shut down the Antioch-Pittsburg Amtrak station and open a new one in Oakley has not changed and will continue to move forward.

Hume said the group discussed during the meeting that the SJJPA board could ask BNSF to accept an exemption to the spacing requirements between the Antioch and Oakley stations if Antioch takes concrete steps and presents plans to change the physical landscape and operating conditions to improve safety.

In March 2023, the board voted 6-1 to eliminate the Antioch-Pittsburg station in favor of Oakley. The new station is less than six miles from the Antioch station, which disqualifies service from both stations because trains would not have enough time to accelerate before having to slow down for the next stop.

“Any suggestion that a measure has been reversed or a new alternative promised is inaccurate. We look forward to working with all parties to hopefully find a solution that maximizes comfort, ridership and safety for all,” Hume said in his statement.

Young, also director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, echoed Hume's statement, saying the board is looking for concrete decisions and options to “perhaps” save the Antioch station.

“If there is a reasonable solution, it gives us ammunition and the opportunity to talk to BNSF where they will think about the spacing (of the stations),” she said.

The discussion about the Antioch-Pittsburg station has been going on for nearly 15 years and involves several stakeholders, including Amtrak and the city of Antioch.

Tamika Smith, SJJPA's rail operations manager, briefed the board on the station's past safety issues, including problems with homeless individuals defecating on a new wheelchair lift fencing, which led to hazardous material calls for cleanup. Amtrak personnel have also frequently encountered safety issues, including a lack of response from Antioch Police.

Staff meetings have been held for three years with Antioch's various city managers, police chiefs and Amtrak officials. At the most recent meeting with Reed, interim police chief Brian Addington and the Amtrak Police Department last week, Smith said the various parties agreed to talk about measures to make the station safer for the public, passengers and employees who serve the station.

“Unfortunately, no plan was presented to employees at that time. We were very disappointed that there was no concrete plan to present to you here today,” Smith said.

Hernandez-Thorpe said he was clear that he would present the plan to the city on Friday and present the panel's feedback to the City Council because he does not have the authority to make decisions without the support of his council members.

The mayor is expected to present his proposal at next month's city council meeting.

He then outlined some of the proposed ideas to improve the station, such as an increased security presence from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, the installation of decorative fencing around the green area to make it more difficult for loitering, improving lighting, and consistently monitoring storage areas within the station premises.

“By the way, this is breaking news because that's what we do anyway. Showing pictures from years ago and saying this is today's station is an insult to people,” said Hernandez-Thorpe.

More than 20 community members and representatives of local nonprofit organizations spoke out strongly against the station's closure, adding that it would impact the environment, housing and the need for accessible transportation for low-income and disabled people.

Eddie Gums, a regular train traveller, said nothing had been done in the last 15 years.

“This is a joke, and I have to say, it's pure racism. That's what it boils down to. It turns out that black and brown people don't count,” Gums said. “You don't care. You haven't changed anything to make it better, you're just trying to take it away or make it worse.”

In a letter to the SJJPA, Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans said the closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg station would make it difficult for residents to use Amtrak. Residents would have to travel 15 miles to the Martinez station or 11.6 miles to the Oakley station, as opposed to just 5.5 miles from Pittsburg City Hall, Evans wrote.

He said the city would “gladly” help increase ridership at the station, saying the number of passengers is around 80 a day.

Contra Costa County Councilwoman Diane Burgis of Oakley said the Antioch City Council must now approve the plans and provide funding for the necessary improvements so the station can remain open.

“As county manager, I'm ready to get involved. I've talked to our congressmen, our representatives and people from our senators' offices, so we're all ready to get involved,” Burgis said. “Antioch needs to make a commitment and I think that's what (SJJPA) staff has been waiting for and I'm very encouraged by what (Hernandez-Thorpe) has put forward and I look forward to seeing it brought to the City Council, voted on and funded so we can move forward and keep the station open.”

Several board members, including Leticia Gonzalez of Madera County, Vito Chiesa of Stanislaus County and Doug Verboon of Kings County, were interested in hearing what Antioch had to say.

“Even if this station is temporarily closed, we will fight for you if you can prove to us that there are passengers,” Verboon said.