As California lawmakers talk about the longer term and funding wants of the Bay Space’s 27 transit companies, they appear to be overlooking one: the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and its unparalleled group abuses.
The San Joaquin JPA, which oversees passenger prepare service from Oakland to Stockton and Bakersfield, is essentially unchecked by California lawmakers despite the fact that its community helps transfer over 700,000 folks annually. Tens of hundreds use the station in downtown Antioch, putting its ridership inside the mid-range in comparison with different stops. In its 2022 marketing strategy, the authority praised the station’s so-called transit oriented growth, or TOD, potential, in addition to its collaboration with the town, highlighting personal developments that will carry extra residents downtown to stroll to the station and use this service.
However only a few months after the plan got here out, the JPA board voted to close down service to the Pittsburg and Antioch communities. Contemplating the general public engagement course of required to carry transit to a group — or change a constructing in an historic district — it’s surprising that the San Joaquin authority felt it was proper to close down service with little to no notification to the individuals who use the prepare to get to work, household, providers and for people all through the area who use it to go to Antioch.
The San Joaquin JPA covers a large space, with its board representing 10 member companies: Alameda County, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, Fresno Council of Governments, Kings County Affiliation of Governments, Madera County Transportation Fee, Merced County Affiliation of Governments, Sacramento Regional Transit, San Joaquin Regional Rail Fee, Stanislaus Council of Governments, and Tulare County Affiliation of Governments.
Sadly, the dearth of state oversight and wider media consideration has emboldened the authority to behave unilaterally, with out group engagement or warning, and vote to close down profitable service to the Antioch-Pittsburg station. On the time, the Antioch mayor stated he was blindsided by the transfer.
The company’s disrespect has provoked protests within the streets, a metropolis decision condemning its actions, and a public rebuke from Rep. John Garamendi, one California’s strongest transit champions in Congress.
In a current letter, Garamendi wrote that “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.” He known as on the authority to postpone closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg station, echoing the outcry from group members who’ve been organizing with the Alliance of Californians for Neighborhood Empowerment Antioch and others to protest this closure.
If this company doesn’t course appropriate, and as a substitute follows by means of with its risk to eradicate transit service to 2 cities comprised of a whole bunch of hundreds, largely working-class Californians of coloration, then the legislature and lawyer common should step up and make things better.
In the end the choice raises some essential questions that the congressmember, Antioch mayor and group have been asking: Why would a transit company shut down a profitable station and open one other station in a smaller, suburban space? The traditionally Black communities of Antioch and Pittsburg dropping a station whereas the smaller, richer, whiter group of Oakley is gaining one — why doesn’t the company serve each stations?
The San Joaquin JPA’s unprecedented determination to close down the Antioch-Pittsburg Amtrak station calls for fast authorized scrutiny from the lawyer common. This can be a harmful precedent for all communities, particularly transit-dependent, low-income communities of coloration. Till that is challenged, the Antioch and Pittsburg communities bear the burden, left at a standstill of their each day lives because of this unwarranted closure.
Carter Lavin is the co-founder of Transbay Coalition, a Bay Space transportation advocacy group. His column was written for CalMatters.
