Garamendi Opposes Proposed Antioch Amtrak Station Closure

FAIRFIELD, CA—Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08) sent a letter to the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority’s Board of Directors opposing the proposed closure of the Amtrak Station in Antioch. Garamendi sent this letter at the request of his constituents, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and concerned residents of Antioch and Contra Costa County.

“Residents of Antioch and elsewhere in Contra Costa County rely on Amtrak to commute to and from work, school, and essential services in neighboring communities across the Bay Area and into the Central Valley. Evidently, the Joint Powers Authority’s planned closure of the Amtrak station in Antioch coincides with the opening of a new Amtrak station in Oakley later this year,” wrote Garamendi.

“I request that the Joint Powers Authority postpone closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg station,” continued Garamendi.

In Congress, Garamendi has worked to improve public transit options in Antioch and across Contra Costa County. On July 10, 2024, Garamendi secured $850,000 in community project funding—formerly called Congressional “earmarks”—for the City of Antioch’s proposed Park and Ride Shared Mobility Hub, which would connect commuters of the three fixed route bus services and the micro-transit service operated by Tri Delta Transit to Amtrak and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART).

A PDF copy of the signed letter is available here.

Full Text of Letter:

Board of Directors

San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority

949 East Channel Street

Stockton, CA 95202

Dear Chair Hume, Vice Chairs Espinosa and Verboon, and Directors:

I write regarding the Joint Powers Authority’s planned closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg Amtrak station. Many Contra Costa County residents have expressed to me their concerns with the process by which the Joint Powers Authority made this decision in March of 2023, citing a lack of public transparency.

Residents of Antioch and elsewhere in Contra Costa County rely on Amtrak to commute to and from work, school, and essential services in neighboring communities across the Bay Area and into the Central Valley. Evidently, the Joint Powers Authority’s planned closure of the Amtrak station in Antioch coincides with the opening of a new Amtrak station in Oakley later this year.

Along with the Oakley station’s opening, the Joint Powers Authority has cited crime and homelessness as deciding factors in the closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg station. Removing passenger rail service is not a solution to crime and homelessness, but rather further disadvantages the community. The Joint Powers Authority’s decision to close the station, rather than work to address these problems, disappoints me and my constituents. The City of Antioch has taken steps to improve public safety at the Amtrak station, such as demolishing the station shelter to clear unsafe homeless encampments in 2019.

To date, I am deeply unsatisfied with the explanations offered by the Joint Powers Authority on its rationale for closing the Antioch-Pittsburg Amtrak station. Moreover, I am awaiting a specific plan for how the Joint Powers Authority will facilitate public transit for the Contra Costa County residents affected by this closure.

I request that the Joint Powers Authority postpone closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg station until the following issues are vetted and addressed fully by all parties:

1) The Joint Powers Authority has cited the number of calls for (police/emergency response) service to the Antioch-Pittsburg station as a primary reason for the closure. However, nearby Amtrak stations have significantly greater volumes of calls for service.

2) If the Joint Powers Authority or Amtrak’s agreement with BNSF Railway precludes two passenger rail stops less than six miles apart, please provide documentation of this requirement for public review.

3) Was the Joint Powers Authority planning to decommission the Antioch-Pittsburg station regardless of the new Amtrak station opening in Oakley? If so, when, where, why, and how was this decision made by the Joint Powers Authority? Was the public given ample opportunity for public comment to inform this decision?

4) If closed, how will current riders from the Antioch-Pittsburg station be made aware of the new timetables at the Oakley station? If closed, will the Joint Powers Authority or Amtrak provide a shuttle available to bring Antioch residents to and from the Oakley station?

To be clear, I strongly support improved passenger rail service across Contra Costa County, throughout the East Bay, and into the Central Valley. In Congress, I have worked to secure federal funding to improve public transit for Contra Costa residents. For the coming federal fiscal year 2025, I am securing $850,000 in Congressionally directed funding for the City of Antioch’s Park and Ride Shared Mobility Hub, which will connect riders of three fixed route bus services and the micro-transit service operated by Tri Delta Transit to the nearby Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Amtrak stations. Once built, the Antioch Hub will improve bus-to-rail and bus-to-bus transfers by combining an access point for all modes of public transit and other mobility options like ride shares.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your response.

Editors Notes:

March 24, 2023 Meeting

During this meeting, San Joaquin County Joint Powers Authority agreed to decommission the Antioch AMTRAK Station and move it to City of Oakley in a 6-1 vote.

At the meeting, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe argued the city of Antioch was blindsided by the move and called it “unfair” while at one point deflecting to other cities who had higher crime levels than the city of Antioch.

He also argued that both councilwoman Monica Wilson and himself were unaware this was occurring and admitted to advocating for the Oakley Station to open up until realizing that station was at the expense of Antioch.

Reasons for the closure included:

• safety concerns, unhoused population (including passenger shelter demolished).
• Continued unhoused population concerns
• Due to the unhoused population challenges, the previous City Manager approved the decommissioning of the stop.
• In December 2022, unhoused individuals were camped inside the ADA shelter; Amtrak staff requested they vacate. When staff returned later, the homeless individuals had stolen the wheelchair lift (valued at $11,000). Until the wheelchair lift is replaced, passengers who use a wheelchair must board in either Martinez or Stockton.
• Amtrak onboard staff have been assaulted by passengers boarding in Antioch.
• To reduce fare evasion, the Antioch – Pittsburg stop uses the streetcar method, with only one door opened per train for boarding and deboarding passengers

Previous stories:

• July 22 – Antioch Looks to Pass Resolution Opposing Amtrak Station Closure
• March 25 – Antioch Amtrak Station to be Decommissioned for Oakley Station

Other articles of interest

• July 17, 2024 – Whodunnit? No proof any city staff member approved Antioch’s Amtrak station closure
• March 13, 2018 – Homeless encampment discovered on top of Antioch Amtrak station