Garamendi Stands up for Antioch Residents Against Proposed 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.

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