Antioch Set to Talk Potential Upgrades to Amtrak Station

On Tuesday, the Antioch City council will hold a discussion on potential upgrades to the Antioch Amtrak station.

The discussion will not include any fiscal impact as the council has not yet provided direction to city staff, however, direction will come nearly 19-months after the San Joaquin Join Powers Authority (SJJPA) voted to decommission the Antioch station for a variety of reasons including safety, homelessness, ridership, fare evasion and response times.

“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 SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen at the Sept. 20 meeting while noting the station has approximently 40 round trips per day.

Also during the meeting, 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.

According to the Antioch City Council agenda for Tuesday, Antioch accuses the SJJPA of not having a comprehensive community engagement process nor an analysis concerning the impacts of their decision. It also states rather than having an impact on everyone, its targeted to specific groups of people:

“The decommissioning of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) will have an immediate negative impact on the local disadvantaged community which include low-income people of color, seniors, veterans, and small businesses that rely on the station.”

While other suggestions could be presented, Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe told SJJPA he had a plan (later confirmed to be from the city manager and police chief) on how the city could improve the Amtrak station and surrounding area which include:

1. Increase security presence between 8:30 am to 9:30 pm
2. Fare only zone in BNSF right away to prevent loitering
3. Consistent enforcement of no camping ordinance.
4. Improve landscaping (roses and other plants)
5. Decorative fencing around landscaping to make it difficult to loiter
6. Lighting improvements
7. Loading and offloading in parking zone

If You Go:

• Antioch City Council Meeting
• Tues, October 22 at 7:00 pm
• 2:00 H St, Antioch CA
• Full Agenda – click here

To view the Sept. 20 SJJPA Board Meeting, the meeting is on YouTube:

Previous AMTRAK Station

• Oct 1 – Antioch Mayor Misleads Public on Amtrak Station Closure
• Aug 2 – Supervisor Burgis Defends Decision to Close Antioch Amtrak Station
• July 22 – Antioch Looks to Pass Resolution Opposing Amtrak Station Closure
• March 25 – Antioch Amtrak Station to be Decommissioned for Oakley Station