Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe may have taken to the public too soon with his claim there is a pathway forward to ensure the Amtrak station remains open.
At the September 20 meeting of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, it was reiterated there is no current plan to keep the Antioch Amtrak Station open at this time as it was previously voted on 18-months ago to be decommissioned. In that time, no plan has been presented nor any action by Antioch to attempt to keep the station open.
Meeting Summary: the Antioch Amtrak station has been decommissioned and will remain decommissioned until the city of Antioch can come up with a plan. Fund that plan. And execute that plan to get the results that the SJJPA need to even consider reopening the station. Supervisor Diane Burgis said she looked forward to helping Antioch re-open their station when they reach that point.
During the meeting, it was stated over the past 18-months, Supervisor Burgis had not heard from Antioch on a plan, or Antioch reach out about keeping the station open. It also took Antioch 16-months to even Pass a Resolution Opposing Amtrak Station Closure which came at the request of Councilmember Lori Ogorchock.
On September 20, the San Joaquin Join Powers Authority (SJJPA) met to provide a history an update on the Antioch station history—nearly 18-months after the station was decommissioned.
The meeting came as Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe claimed on September 10 that he found a path forward to keep the Antioch Amtrak Station open.
“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.” -Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, Mayor of Antioch
During the meeting, Mayor Nancy Young, City of Tracy, read a statement from Supervisor Patrick Hume, Chair, Sacramento County, that disputed Hernandez-Thorpe’s claim. Instead, that what was discussed was if certain steps were taken that a plan could be put forward. He added that any suggestion that an action has been undone or a new alternative is promised is inaccurate (see full statement in recap below).
Meeting Video:
Meeting Overview:
SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen shared the issues at the Antioch Amtrak station which date back nearly 15-years. She also shared why the station was decommissioned citing ridership was at 40-round-trips per day along with safety concerns.
“The lack of visible evidence by the city to improve the situation over the many years. Along statements by the Amtrak inspector general on the safety and security instances, made it difficult not to take some action,” said Mortensen.
Tameka Smith, Director of Rail Services, has spent a number of years trying to find a solution with the city of Antioch which will remain their goal. She shared the following:
- 10 years ago met with Antioch on unhoused activity concerns – city responded by ripping out the platform, which started the conversation.
- Wheelchair access damaged/stolen twice. Hazmat team has to be called out to unlock access due to homeless defecating on handles.
Smith further highlighted the situation has not improved from March of 2023 until present day—also listing “everyday concerns” assisting passengers along with a lack of response from Antioch Police Department.
Smith also said they have met with multiple city managers over the past three years along with two joint meetings with Amtrak Police, city managers and two Antioch Police Department chiefs.
“When we met with them, it was unfortunate that there was no plan presented to staff at that time. We were very disappointed. There was no concrete plan for us to report out to you today,” said Smith.
Mortensen further highlighted the calls to action have been from people protesting the action of decommissioning the station, but there haven’t been any calls to action from the owner of the area (Antioch) and resources to fix the safety and security issues—City of Pittsburg did advocate to keep the station open and offered to help boost ridership.
“The board left a lot of doors open in the decommissioning action and Supervisor Diane Burgis have continued to explore options to address the station spacing issue and find avenues to overcome that. But all those future scenarios have to have Antioch-Pittsburg station that is safe and secure that we can offer our passengers,” explained Mortensen.
In July, Mortensen she met with the Mayor, Chair Nancy Young and Patrick Hume of the body which had a goal of a future Antioch station open.
At the meeting, Young shared Hume’s response via a letter:
“What was discussed was if certain steps were taken and a plan was put forward by the city of Antioch that involved environmental changes to the physical landscape as well as operational changes that provided heightened security, safety for the passengers and employees of the system, then we can ask the BNSF to accept an exemption for the spacing of our stations on the rail line. That criteria as well as the performance by the city to present a viable plan is beyond control of this agency. Amending the original decision that created a spacing issue is beyond the authority of the two board members who participated in the meeting. So any suggestion that an action has been undone are new definitive alternative is promised is inaccurate. We look forward to working collaborative with all parties to hopefully arrive at a solution that maximizes convenience and ridership and safety for all.”
After the statement was read, Young echoed many of what Hume stated. She also said they made it very clear the station in the City of Oakley was going to open. Rather, they were looking at options and solutions that could save Antioch in the future.
Young said she was hopeful Antioch will put a plan together as they go forward.
Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe said there were some things stated that he wanted to respond to but was not because “there was no sense in arguing over spilled milk.”
“What I do want to say is my key takeaway from our meeting is that I would come here and present our plan,” said Hernandez-Thorpe. “My understanding is I would come here, we would get some feedback, and I would take that to council.”
Hernandez-Thorpe continued by saying the city council has felt cut out from this process (it later came out that the mayor intentionally did not tell councilmembers Barbanica and Ogorchock of the station closure). He also said it wouldn’t be at the next meeting because he would not be at the council meeting (Hernandez-Thorpe was at the council meeting).
Hernandez-Thorpe then provided his plan:
- Increase security presence between 8:30 am to 9:30 pm
- Fare only zone in BNSF right away to prevent loitering
- Consistent enforcement of no camping ordinance.
- Improve landscaping (roses and other plants)
- Decorative fencing around landscaping to make it difficult to loiter
- Lighting improvements
- Loading and offloading in parking zone
“To show that image from years ago and show this is the station today is an insult to the people who have been advocating for a station. Please stop using that image,” stated Hernandez-Thorpe.
Note – images from July and August still show unhoused camping and loitering at the station.
“That is going to be my proposal to the city council and if there is any additional feedback for me, great, but please stop suggesting that we haven’t been working on our train station and that there is just homelessness, it has not,” said Hernandez-Thorpe. “Those were homeless that we took and put in your hotel Diane (Burgis) over in Pittsburg. We have dealt with it. We do not have homeless people.”
Note – this is false, homeless continue to camp and hang out at the Amtrak station, even after this Sept. 20 meeting.
No other public officials from the city of Antioch spoke. There were 14-public comments who spoke in person and many online (26-total).
Board Discussion
Supervisor Diane Burgis shared in last March it was a difficult decision but she would support Antioch going forward and has communicated that to Antioch.
“I communicated that 18-months ago, and I know people need a bad guy, I’ll take that if that is my role, but I am committed to helping. The problem is, in those 18-months, I have asked staff several times have you heard from Antioch. They had not,” explained Burgis. “When it was talked about in city council meetings, they did not like that it was happening, but they did not say what do we need to do to fix this. At the time, I kept saying, have you heard from them.”
She stated what Hernandez-Thorpe recommended in his proposal was a good start.
“The next step is to have the city council communicate that they are supportive of that and also help fund it,” said Burgis noting there is no plan, but rather people talk about ideas and no commitments have been made. “We are all ready to lean in, its just Antioch has to make a commitment.”
Young added 18-months ago they voted on a plan to de-commission the station. Today, they were here as a board to deal with an entire rail line serving many communities. She called today as a starting point for solutions while it also couldn’t be a one-way conversation.
“Help us help you. Encourage the plan when it goes to the council meeting,” said Young. “Once we have those commitments, then we have something
Working Group to be Formed
Mortensen proposed a working group committee with a member of the board, city of Antioch, City of Pittsburg and members of the public to participate together–the City of Oakley was not included in the discussion.
“I think that is a great idea, I would recommend that,” said Burgis.
Young agreed.
Hernandez-Thorpe shared he was under the impression he was going to get feedback on his plan and any other suggestions.
“I am all for the committee, but I want to stay focused on what I came here for today, this is my proposal I am here for this,” said Hernandez-Thorpe. “That was my goal and we kind of got off track.”
Burgis said they wanted to see the plan so they could have Amtrak involved.
Young explained when they met, Hernandez-Thorpe was to bring his proposed plan, but also present it to the council. She urged him to find out if it was a good enough plan.
Smith said it would take another meeting so they could provide feedback.
Burgis further encouraged city council buy-in along with a budget allocation to back up any plan that will be proposed.
“We can’t just talk about it, it actually has to happen,” said Burgis. “That will be what actually moves things along.”
Burgis closed by stating her goal was to get more people on the train to get more vehicles off the roadway.
Hernandez-Thorpe added their whole downtown was designed around the Amtrak station which included affordable housing.
Previous Stories:
- Aug 2, 2024 – Supervisor Burgis Defends Decision to Close Antioch Amtrak Station
- July 22, 2024 – Antioch Looks to Pass Resolution Opposing Amtrak Station Closure
- March 25, 2024 – Antioch Amtrak Station to be Decommissioned for Oakley Station
4 comments
Da mayor stretching da facts , say it ain’t so.
Mayor is so often the victim in situations and has such a need to be the center of attention. In 2018 unhoused person set up camp on top of Amtrak shelter and in usual temper tantrum style Antioch destroyed that monument to incompetence. In subsequent years police call logs have documented criminal activity in area of the station.
1 Dead, 2 Wounded After 70 Shots Fired Outside Monica’s Riverview was story on Contra Costa news.
What is time frame for getting police department up to full strength of 115 officers?
The new City Manager will get this all sorted out when she starts this Monday.
As one of the people responsible for maintaining the Amtrak station, I can say from first hand knowledge that the facility almost from the day it opened was a source of vandalism and significant cost to maintain it. Fixtures torn off walls, fires started in towel dispensers and trash cans, graffiti painted inside bathrooms and on the buildings, everyday theft of supplies, sinks stopped up and allowed to flood bathrooms etc. Vagrants also resorted to sleeping in bathrooms and during winter months starting fires using paper products to stay warm. Steps taken to reduce the amount of time and money spent maintaining the facility were often met with increased vandalism. For example. City staff began opening and closing bathrooms in an effort to reduce vandalism. Almost immediately vandals began kicking in doors which led to significant cost to replace metal doors and frames. Toilet paper dispensers protected by locks to stop theft were broken off walls and sinks destroyed. Even replacement stainless steel fixtures were damaged. In the end charity groups, especially during rains began using the facilities cover to set up food preparation equipment to feed the homeless in the area. So, almost from its opening because of the vandalism, the inability to rid the area of homeless and lack of enforcement and security it’s no wonder it was decommissioned. Sad because it could have been an integral part of the transportation network for East County and a plus for Antioch.
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