Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

New Year rings in toll increase at 7 Bay Area bridges

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Bay Bridge Toll Plaza. Photo by Noah-Berger. Source: MTC website.

Last of three voter-approved increases takes effect Jan. 1st; failed in Contra Costa County

BATA board also voted last week to increase tolls to $11.50 by 2030 for bridge maintenance and repairs

By John Goodwin, Assistant Director of Communications & Rebecca Long, Director, Legislation & Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission

The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) reminds drivers that tolls at the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges will go up by $1 next Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. This will be the third of the three $1 toll increases approved by the California Legislature in 2017 through state Senate Bill 595 and by voters through Regional Measure 3 (RM3) in June 2018 which passed by 55.07% to 44.93%. The first of these toll hikes went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, and the second on Jan. 1, 2022. It funds $4.45 billion slate of highway and transit improvements but did not include bridge maintenance and repairs. Regular tolls for two-axle cars and trucks (as well as for motorcycles) at the Antioch, San Francisco-Oakland Bay, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges will rise to $8 from the current $7 on Jan. 1, 2025. Tolls for vehicles with three or more axles also will rise by $1 on Jan. 1, 2025, at all seven of the state-owned toll bridges: to $18 for three axles, $23 for four-axles, $28 for five axles, $33 for six axles, and $38 for combinations with seven or more axles. Regional Measure 3 continues the peak-period toll discount for motorcycles, qualifying carpools and qualifying clean-air vehicles crossing any of the state-owned toll bridges on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The discounted toll will rise to $4 on Jan. 1 from the current $3.50. To qualify for this discount, carpoolers, motorcyclists and drivers of clean-air vehicles must use FasTrak® to pay their tolls electronically and must use a designated carpool lane at each toll plaza. Contra Costa Voters Opposed Ballot Measure According to Ballotpedia, RM3 raised bridge tolls in the Bay Area—excluding tolls for the Golden Gate Bridge—by $3 over six years to fund the Bay Area Traffic Relief Plan, including a $4.5 billion slate of transportation projects. It was on the ballot for voters in the city and county of San Francisco and the following counties: Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma. Voters in two of the counties most affected by the bridge tolls rejected RM3. The vote in Contra Costa County was 44.54% opposed to 55.465 in favor and Solano County voters overwhelmingly opposed it 30.03% to 69.97%. But voters in the other seven counties approved the measure. Alameda County where voters and commuters are also most affected by bridge toll increases passed RM3 by 53.89% to 46.11% The vote margin was closest in Napa County, where voters approved the measure 50.7 percent to 49.3 percent.

Source: Ballotpedia

Senate Bill 595 and Regional Measure 3 also established a 50-cent toll discount for two-axle vehicles crossing more than one of the state-owned toll bridges during weekday commute hours of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. To be eligible for the toll discount, which is to be applied to the second toll crossing of the day, motorists must pay their tolls electronically with FasTrak®. Carpools, motorcycles and qualifying clean-air vehicles making a second peak-period toll crossing in a single day will qualify for an additional 25-cent discount off the already-discounted carpool toll. New FasTrak® customers can obtain toll tags at Costco warehouse stores and select Walgreens stores around Northern California. A complete list of participating locations — as well as an online enrollment and registration feature — is available on the FasTrak® Web site at bayareafastrak.org. Customers also may enroll in the FasTrak® program by phone at 1-877-229-8655; by calling 511 and asking for “FasTrak” at the first prompt; or in person at the FasTrak® customer service center at 375 Beale Street in San Francisco. FasTrak® can be used in all lanes at all Bay Area toll plazas. Major projects in the Regional Measure 3 expenditure plan include improvements to State Route 37 in the North Bay, freeway interchange improvements in Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties, the purchase of more new BART cars, extension of the BART system from Berryessa to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara, extension of the Caltrain corridor to the Salesforce Transit Center in downtown San Francisco, expansion of Muni’s transit vehicle fleet, expansion of San Francisco Bay Ferry service and more frequent transbay bus service, an improved connection between northbound U.S. 101 and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in Marin County, upgrades to the Dumbarton Bridge corridor, and extension of the SMART rail system to Windsor and Healdsburg in Sonoma County. In Addition to Recently Approved Bridge Toll Hikes Beginning Jan. 1, 2026

The Regional Measure 3 toll hike that takes effect next week is separate from the 50 cents per year toll hikes approved by BATA earlier this month, which will be phased in over five years, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, to pay for the maintenance, rehabilitation and operation of the seven state-owned toll bridges. It will increase tolls by 2030 to $11.50 for those who don’t use FasTrak and $10.50 for those who do. BATA this month also approved updates to the policies for high-occupancy vehicles on approaches to the state-owned bridges, which will similarly go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. (See related article)

BATA, which is directed by the same policy board as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), administers toll revenues from the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges. Toll revenues from the Golden Gate Bridge are administered by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which joined with BATA to operate a single regional FasTrak® customer service center in San Francisco. MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

BATA board approves annual toll increases to $11.50, HOV lane policy changes

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Photos source: BATA

For $2 billion in maintenance, preservation and operation of Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges.

Contra Costa’s representatives voted in favor of 50-cent annual increases beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

By Allen D. Payton

After extending the period for public input, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) Board of Directors voted 15-0-1 to approve toll increases and other toll policy changes for the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Tolls will increase to as much as $11.50 by 2030.

According to BATA spokesman John Goodwin, the vote passed “by all 16 members present save one abstention from a brand-new commissioner, Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy-Ashcraft, who represents the cities of Alameda County.”

The board consists of 21 members, with 18 voting members, he shared. Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack, who represents the cities of Contra Costa, and Contra Costa District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, who represents the County, both voted in favor of the toll increases.

A phased toll increase starting in 2026 is proposed to fund the Toll Bridge Capital Improvement Plan, which includes almost $2 billion of investment which will be used exclusively for the maintenance, preservation and operation of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Richmond-San Rafael, Carquinez, Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges.

The Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges are structurally sound and in good repair. State law requires BATA — working in partnership with Caltrans — to keep them that way.

The toll increases are separate from the $3 increase approved by Bay Area voters in 2018 through Regional Measure 3 to finance a comprehensive suite of highway and transit improvements around the region. The first of the three $1 Regional Measure 3 increases went into effect in 2019, followed by another in 2022. The last of the RM 3 toll hikes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, bringing the toll for regular two-axle cars and trucks to $8.

Summary of the 2026 Toll Increase

Toll rates include the last voter-approved Regional Measure 3 (RM 3) toll increase that goes into effect January 1, 2025.

To encourage electronic toll payment with FasTrak® tags, tolls and help recoup the increased costs of collecting tolls via pre-registered license plate accounts or invoices, on Jan. 1, 2027 will also rise by 25 cents for customers who pay with a pre-registered license plate account and on January 1, 2027 will rise by $1 for tolls paid by invoice.

Two-Axle Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA

Toll Increase: Two-Axle Vehicle Toll

The toll rate update includes an increase of 50 cents a year from 2026 through 2030 for two-axle vehicles. This phased-in approach is similar to the Golden Gate Bridge’s recent multi-year update to its toll schedule.

*HOV rate is 50% of two-axle FasTrak rate.

Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA

Toll Increase: Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll

Tolls for multi-axle vehicles also will rise by 50 cents per axle per year from 2026 through 2030.

Multi-axle differential pricing:

  • Invoices: +$1.00 per transaction starting January 1, 2027
  • License plate account: + $0.25 per transaction starting January 1, 2027

A Precedent for Tiered Pricing

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has used a tiered pricing schedule at the Golden Gate Bridge since 2014.

Golden Gate Bridge tolls by July 2028 will range from $11.25 for FasTrak to $11.50 for license plate accounts to $12.25 for invoice customers.

Summary of the Changes to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Policies

BATA is also making changes to HOV policies. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the changes will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. It will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to all bridges except the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas.

BATA’s existing toll schedule allows vehicles with three or more occupants (HOV 3+) a discounted toll (half-price), with a two-person (HOV 2+) occupancy requirement for the discounted tolls at the Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the new policy will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. The discounted toll rate is available weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m.

The policy changes will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas. There will be no change at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, where volumes of vehicles with three or more occupants are much higher than those at other bridges. Use of the carpool lanes on approaches to the Bay Bridge will still require a minimum of three occupants.

In addition to establishing region-wide consistency for the carpool toll discount, the policy changes are designed to:

  • Improve safety on the toll bridge approaches by minimizing “weaving” between lanes.
  • Optimize lane configurations as now-obsolete toll booths are removed as part of the bridges’ transition to open-road tolling.
  • Increase person-throughput by prioritizing access for buses and carpools.

Read more about the BATA toll increases, here.

See BATA Board meeting agenda items 24-1571 through 24-1575. Watch meeting video.

 

 

Contra Costa Continuum of Care seeks volunteers for Jan. 30th Homeless Point in Time Count

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By Contra Costa Health, Housing and Homeless Services

What is the Point in Time Count?

The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count provides a comprehensive snapshot of individuals experiencing homelessness—both sheltered and unsheltered—on a single night in late January. Mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), this annual count requires Continuums of Care to account for sheltered individuals who are in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and safe havens, as well as unsheltered individuals who live in places not meant for human habitation like cars, parks, sidewalks, and abandoned buildings.

As a result, the Continuum of Care (CoC) must submit PIT Count data to HUD. This data is collected across the country to estimate homelessness and provide information about the demographics of people experiencing homelessness.

This information is used to decide how much funding communities get to help with homelessness.

Source: CCC CoC

Data collected from the Point-in-Time Count helps identify

  • The causes of homelessness
  • Create better policies, programs and funding allocations
  • Track progress in reducing homelessness

What Am I Being Asked To Do?

When Do You Need Me?

  • The week of January 13th for one (1) two hour IN PERSON Volunteer Training. You will select when/where you want to do the training when you register
  • Thursday, January 30th from 5:30 am – 9:00 am for the actual count!

How Do I Sign Up?

How do I learn more about the Point in Time Count?

  • Click hereto learn more

How do I tell my friends and family about this volunteer opportunity?

Volunteers must follow these three steps!

Questions?

Padilla announces $19 million grant for North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative

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Part of over $216 million for California from environmental and climate justice Community Change Grants from Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded 15 California projects a combined $216.5 million to advance local, on-the-ground projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and strengthen workforce development. The funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act as part of the Community Change Grants Program, the largest nationwide investment in environmental and climate justice in history.

The Community Change Grants Program addresses the diverse and unique needs of disadvantaged communities by reducing air, water, and soil pollution, building resilient infrastructure to extreme weather events, and bolstering workforce development.

“Overlooked communities across California have struggled for generations with air pollution and unaffordable water and energy bills. The climate crisis has only underscored these vulnerabilities,” said Padilla. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re delivering millions in environmental justice investments to reduce energy costs and improve air quality, while developing climate-resilient community workforces.”

Approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds were available for environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input.

“On day one of his Administration, President Biden promised to target investments to communities that for too long have been shut out of federal funding,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today, thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is delivering on that promise. These selections will create jobs, improve public health, and uplift community efforts in all corners of this country, regardless of geography or background.”

California projects selected for Community Change Grants Program awards include:

  • North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative — $19.08 million. The North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative will build a community resiliency center at the North Richmond Farm to serve the community in the event of an emergency or disaster and provide community services during normal operations. The project will scale up existing efforts to increase North Richmond’s urban tree canopy and will plant 65 new trees along the Verde Elementary schoolyard to shield students from pollution generated by a new distribution center.
  • Treasure Island Connects — $19.50 million. This project focuses on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island in the San Francisco Bay Area. Treasure Island Connects aims to expand community access to clean public transportation resources through six projects. The project will launch a microtransit pilot to connect Treasure Island residents to key resources on mainland San Francisco and a community circulator shuttle. The project will also add one new electric bus to the Muni bus route servicing Treasure Island, create a bikeshare program, and install electric ferry charging infrastructure to support the planned conversion to zero-emission ferry service.
  • South Los Angeles All In – Good Jobs, Healthy Communities — $20 million. The Coalition for Responsible Community Development and the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College will support workforce development in South Los Angeles along four career tracks to reduce pollution, including lead abatement in buildings; welding for clean energy and transportation projects; hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance; and weatherization and energy auditing of buildings.
  • GREEN San Gabriel Valley — $20 million. In California’s San Gabriel Valley, Day One, Active San Gabriel Valley, and their partners will implement several environmental justice projects. They will mitigate extreme heat and build community resilience by expanding tree canopy and greening schoolyards with rain gardens and native plants. They will also provide incentives for the purchase of e-bikes, establish 60 public water stations, and reduce energy costs through the installation of solar, energy storage systems, and cool roofs.
  • Safe Drinking Water and Climate Resilience for Rural Pajaro Valley Disadvantaged Communities — $20 million. Focusing on households served by California’s Pajaro Water System (PWS), Sunny Mesa Water System (SMWS), and Springfield Water System (SWS), as well as households relying on private wells near the SWS in Northeastern Monterey County, this project will consolidate these water systems into a combined system with multiple compliant wells for redundancy and resilience to extreme climate events. Current systems do not have backup wells that meet water quality standards.
  • The San Diego Foundation — $20 million. Focused on San Diego’s historic central barrios, San Diego Foundation and the Environmental Health Coalition will take a holistic approach to improve local air quality, mitigate extreme heat, and expand green space. The project will improve residents’ access to clean and safe transportation, electrify homes, add energy storage, install air filters, and perform weatherization upgrades. It will also connect residents to clean energy job opportunities and apprenticeships in electrical and construction work.
  • Restoring Resilience: Enhancing Community and Environmental Sustainability through the Dos Pueblos Institute’s Climate Action Strategy — $19.99 million. The Restoring Resilience project will enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities for the residents of disadvantaged communities on California’s Gaviota Coast. The project will establish the Gaviota Coastal Cultural and Historical Center, a resilience hub that will serve as a central location for educational programs and community events during “blue sky” days and as an emergency shelter and staging area during wildfires and other disasters.
  • Southeast Strong — $19.98 million. The City of Bakersfield and Building Healthy Communities Kern will improve community connectivity in central and southeast Bakersfield by expanding residents’ access to safe, clean, and convenient active transportation and public transit options. To reduce pollution and energy costs, they will fund energy efficiency retrofits at 30 single-family residential units and retrofit another 60 homes with solar panels and battery technologies. The project will also provide 150 residents with training to install solar panels, repair electric vehicles, and enroll in electrician apprenticeships.
  • Building Climate Resilient Communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley — $18.76 million. This project will build four geothermal, solar-powered commercial greenhouses with geothermal energy for cooling and heating. The greenhouses will support vertical hydroponic farming and will offer free training and 15 living wage jobs to newly trained “Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) workers from the Eastern Coachella Valley community. The project also will build the Center for Community Development and Resilience (CCDR), which will integrate climate-smart building elements, such as solar and heat pumps, as well as green infrastructure.
  • Greening North Franklin — $17.84 million. La Familia Counseling Center and Community Resource Project will implement several projects to reduce pollution and build climate resilience in south Sacramento. They will develop a community resilience hub to serve as a cooling center during extreme heat events and provide services to meet community needs in an emergency. To reduce energy costs and pollution, the project will provide energy efficiency upgrades, install solar on qualifying homes, and provide workforce training in electrification, housing retrofits, and solar installation.

A full list of California projects and descriptions is available here.

EPA is on track to obligate the majority of selected Community Change grants by January 2025. More information on the Community Change Grants Program is available here.

Senator Padilla has helped secure hundreds of millions from the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce pollution in underserved California communities. Earlier this year, Padilla announced nearly $500 million from the Inflation Reduction Act for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which will help decarbonize the transportation and freight sectors and improve air quality for Southern California residents. Padilla also secured nearly $250 million for California’s Solar for All project to help deliver residential solar for low-income and disadvantaged communities across the state. Last year, he announced over $102 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service to combat extreme heat and climate change, plant and maintain trees, and create urban green spaces.

 

BART fares will increase 5.5% on January 1, 2025

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While working to increase ridership currently averaging on weekdays about 40% of pre-COVID figures

By Bay Area Rapid Transit District

As BART strives to increase ridership, which is averaging about 40% of weekday pre-COVID figures, BART fares will increase January 1, 2025, to keep pace with inflation so that the agency is able to pay for continued operations and to work toward restoring financial stability. BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations.

Fares will increase 5.5 percent on New Year’s Day. The increase is tied to the rate of inflation minus a half-percentage point. It’s the second such increase – the first took effect January 1, 2024.

The average fare will increase 25 cents, from $4.47 to $4.72. BART’s fare calculator and Trip Planner have been updated with the new fares for trips with the date 1/1/25 and beyond. Riders can learn how the increase will affect their travels by entering a 2025 date for their trip.

“We understand that price increases are never welcome, but BART fares remain a vital source of funds even with ridership lower than they were before the pandemic,” said BART Board Vice President Mark Foley. “My Board colleagues and I voted in June 2023 to spread necessary fare increases over two years rather than catching up all at once. At the same time, we voted to increase the Clipper START means-based discount from 20 percent to 50 percent to help those most in need.”

The fare increase is expected to raise about $14 million per year for operations. Combined with the previous year’s fare adjustment, BART will use this $30 million per year to fund train service, enhanced cleaning, additional police and unarmed safety staff presence, and capital projects such as the Next Generation Fare Gates project.

Discounts available for those who are eligible

The regional Clipper START program is an important resource for low-income riders of BART and other Bay Area transit systems. The program is for adult riders with a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less. Administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, program participants receive a personalized Clipper card that cuts half the cost of fares on more than 20 transit systems.

Regular, predictable increases a long-term strategy

January’s fare increase is the latest adjustment in a strategy to provide BART funding while providing riders predictable, scaled changes to the costs of riding. In 2004, BART first implemented this inflation-based fare increase program that calls for small, regular, less-than-inflation increases every two years, allowing fares to keep up with the cost of providing reliable and safe service.

BART is also much less expensive than driving on a cost per mile basis. The Internal Revenue Service standard mileage rate for driver is 67 cents per mile; BART riders pay an average of 27 cents per mile, 60% less than the cost of driving.

Outdated funding model

BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations. Even with the fare increase, BART is facing a $35 million operating deficit in FY26 and $385 million in FY27. Since BART’s outdated model of relying on passenger fares to pay most operating costs is no longer feasible because of remote work, the agency must modernize its funding sources to better match other transit systems throughout the country that receive larger amounts of public funding. BART needs a more reliable long-term source of operating funding and continues to advocate at the federal, state, and regional levels for the permanent funding needed to sustainably provide the quality transit service the Bay Area needs.

Addressing BART’s ongoing financial crisis will take a variety of solutions including securing new revenue and continuing to find internal cost savings. BART costs have grown at a rate lower than inflation, showing we have held the line on spending. We have implemented a service schedule that better matches ridership and we are running shorter trains, reducing traction power consumption and maintenance costs.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Unnecessary toll hikes will strap middle income drivers in Contra Costa and beyond

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The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Photo: MTC

By Marc Joffe

As if the $1 toll hike on January 1, 2025, is not enough, commissioners at the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) plan to approve a series of five fifty cent increases starting in 2026. By 2030, tolls on the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges will reach $10.50 for FasTrak users and $11.50 for drivers paying by invoice. Included in the increase are these four bridges with landings in Contra Costa County:

  • Antioch (Senator John A. Nejedly) Bridge
  • Benicia-Martinez (George Miller) Bridge
  • Carquinez Bridge
  • Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Aside from toll hikes, motorists are facing a gasoline price increase arising from the California Air Resources Board’s recent imposition of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. According to a research center at the University of Pennsylvania, LCFS could cost drivers up to 85 cents extra per gallon. And this is on top of California’s highly elevated fuel prices, driven by taxes that rise annually under SB1 (2018).

Despite increasing maintenance costs, the Bay Area bridges are quite profitable. BATA expects total revenue of $1.058 billion this year. The costs of operating the bridges, running FasTrak, and paying debt service are projected to total just $757 million, leaving $300 million to spare.

As BATA admits in its own FAQ on the toll increase, $3.00 of the current $7.00 toll is already being siphoned off for purposes other than bridge operations, maintenance, and seismic safety (this will increase to $4.00 of $8.00 on January 1). For example, almost $6 million is diverted annually to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority to operate its empty bus terminal and to pursue its hopeless plan to bring high-speed rail trains into the Salesforce Transit Center. Bridge toll money is also being used to subsidize Bay Area ferries, SF Muni, AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit, and the NAPA Vine bus service.

The toll hike on the Antioch Bridge is especially egregious. BATA is charging the same tolls on all its bridges despite their vastly different lengths. The Bay Bridge is 8.4 miles long while the Antioch Bridge is just 1.8 miles long. Also, unlike all other Bay Area bridges, the Antioch Bridge has just one lane in each direction.

And then there is the question of income. While many Bay Area drivers are wealthy enough to easily absorb the toll hike, that is less true of people living near the Antioch Bridge. According to Census Reporter, Antioch’s per capita income is only 56 percent of the average for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro region. Rio Vista, the first sizable community on the north side of the bridge, clocks in at just 67 percent of the metro area’s income per person.

At minimum, BATA should exempt the Antioch Bridge from its planned toll hikes. But better yet, the Authority should shelve its entire toll increase plan, stop siphoning off toll money for other purposes, and live within its means.

Marc Joffe is President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association.

CA State Parks’ Office of Historic Preservation announces start of State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program

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John Muir home in Martinez (Source: National Park Service) and El Campanil Theatre in Antioch. (Source: El Campanil Theatre)

Property owners can apply for the credit to rehabilitate and maintain their historical buildings and qualified residences

SACRAMENTO — California State Parks’ Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) announced today it will begin accepting applications for the State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program at 8 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2025. California property owners can apply for the credit to rehabilitate and maintain their historical buildings and qualified residences, retaining Californians’ link to the past while keeping historic buildings and homes relevant in the present and beyond.

The tax credit program provides a 20% credit for qualified rehabilitation expenditures (or 25% credit if the structure meets specified criteria) for rehabilitation of a certified historic structure or a qualified residence, as provided, within the state to be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, in conjunction with OHP. A total of $50 million is available for allocation.

In preparation for this program, OHP is holding two virtual informational sessions on eligibility qualifications, completing the application and documentation requirements, with time allotted for questions and answers. The sessions will be held:

Application instructions, forms, frequently asked questions and program regulations can be found on the OHP’s State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit site. Potential applicants are recommended to read the program information in advance of the informational sessions. For information about the tax credit program, please contact Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Jody L. Brown at Jody.L.Brown@parks.ca.gov.

The OHP administers federal and state mandated historic preservation programs to further the identification, evaluation, registration and protection of California’s irreplaceable resources, and promotes the care, maintenance, relevance and reuse of California’s historic properties.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.

Legal earthquake: Federal jury in SF awards millions to BART workers denied religious accommodations

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Fired for not taking COVID-19 vaccine, one employee from San Pablo

San Francisco, CA. –  A federal jury on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, delivered a stunning blow to Bay Area officials who denied every religious accommodation requested by workers to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The eight-person jury deliberated for two days before unanimously awarding six former employees of San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) more than $1 million each, for a total of about $7.8 million. The employees have been represented by Pacific Justice Institute since 2022.

On Friday, Oct. 18, the jury first determined that BART failed to prove an undue hardship in denying any accommodations to the employees. Yesterday, the jury further concluded that all of the employees had met their burden of showing a genuine conflict between their faith and the vaccine requirement, which was implemented in late 2021. The jury then accepted the numbers calculated by the plaintiffs’ economic expert for lost wages and added $1 million to each of those figures.

Brad Dacus, president of PJI, commented, “These verdicts are seismic—a 7.8 San Francisco legal earthquake. This amazing outcome represents so much hard work by our team, perseverance by these clients, and fairness from our judicial system.”

Kevin Snider, PJI’s Chief Counsel who served as lead trial counsel, commented, “The rail employees chose to lose their livelihood rather than deny their faith. That in itself shows the sincerity and depth of their convictions. After nearly three years of struggle, these essential workers feel they were heard and understood by the jury and are overjoyed and relieved by the verdict.”

During the trial, jurors heard compelling testimony from dedicated employees. One of the plaintiffs had worked for more than 30 years for BART, with a stretch of 10 years perfect attendance, before being unceremoniously dismissed. Another had been out on workers comp for months, with no scheduled return date, when she was fired. BART had also argued that several of the employees’ conflicts with taking the vaccine were more secular than religious. The jury disagreed.

PJI’s trial attorneys in this case consisted of Kevin T. Snider, Matthew B. McReynolds, and Milton E. Matchak. PJI was joined at trial by co-counsel Jessica R. Barsotti. Nationwide, PJI continues to represent hundreds of dedicated employees who lost their jobs after they sought and were denied religious accommodations to the COVID-19 vaccines. This week’s verdicts are expected to impact many of those pending cases.

The BART employees’ case number is 3:22-cv-06119-WHA.

California Family Council Comments on Court Victory

In addition, the California Family Council wrote the following on their website (republished with permission):

Victory for Conscience: Fired BART Employees Secure Million-Dollar Settlement Over Vaccine Mandate

In a case that sends a powerful message on the importance of religious liberty, a San Francisco jury awarded more than $7 million to former Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) employees who were terminated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds. Represented by the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), these employees sacrificed their careers rather than compromise their deeply held convictions—a stand that has now been vindicated in court, both legally and morally.

A Stand for Faith Over Career

This case, centered on BART’s refusal to accommodate employees’ sincere religious objections, highlighted the tensions between public health policies and individual rights to religious freedom. For these former BART workers, faith was not just a private belief but a guiding principle that defined how they lived and worked. In the face of mounting pressures, they made a difficult choice: to lose their jobs rather than violate their consciences. According to Kevin Snider, PJI’s Chief Counsel and lead trial attorney on the case, “The rail employees chose to lose their livelihood rather than deny their faith. That in itself shows the sincerity and depth of their convictions. After nearly three years of struggle, these essential workers feel they were heard and understood by the jury and are overjoyed and relieved by the verdict.”

This lawsuit is part of a broader trend in the courts, where cases involving COVID-19 mandates and religious objections are increasingly ruling in favor of those who held firm to their faith. The jury’s decision represents a milestone in affirming that religious accommodations cannot be set aside, even amid unprecedented health crises. As Reuters noted, similar cases across the country are starting to see victories for individuals who stood by their beliefs rather than comply with mandates they found objectionable on religious grounds.

Pacific Justice Institute Defends Religious Rights in Court

Brad Dacus, President of PJI, emphasized the wider impact of this ruling, saying, “This case sets a legal precedent ensuring that all government agencies honor religious exemptions.” His statement underscores that this case has implications far beyond California and BART; it signals a renewed commitment to protecting religious rights across all sectors, reminding government agencies and private employers alike that religious liberty is a constitutional right, not an optional privilege.

Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Employers have an obligation to respect their employees’ religious beliefs by providing reasonable accommodations whenever possible. Religious freedom is foundational, and this decision underscores the importance of honoring that freedom in all facets of public life.” Burt’s comments resonate in a climate where religious rights are often viewed as secondary to policy mandates, reinforcing the idea that true religious freedom requires active respect from employers and institutions.

Integrity and Conviction in the Face of Institutional Pressure

The jury’s award of over $7 million was not merely a financial victory but a resounding affirmation of the workers’ commitment to their principles. It serves as a powerful testament to the fact that religious liberty extends into the workplace and that individuals should not be coerced into choices that violate their faith. The workers’ triumph speaks to the courage it takes to defend one’s beliefs against institutional pressures. The defendants’ win also addresses a broader legal and societal question: How do we, as a nation, protect the conscience rights of individuals amid public mandates? By securing this verdict, the former BART employees underscore the critical importance of faith-based resilience in a culture that increasingly prioritizes compliance over conviction.

This case does more than validate the BART employees’ religious rights—it represents an undercurrent of resistance where faith and courage fuel social change. Their unwavering stance mirrors that of others in history who’ve faced institutional pressures for their beliefs, reminding us that when one group stands firm, they often pave the way for countless others to reclaim their rights. With this landmark decision, these workers have become symbols of integrity and resilience, showing us all that the call to live authentically—faith and all—can transform society in profound ways.

An effort to contact one of the six plaintiffs who lives in San Pablo was unsuccessful prior to publication time. Please check back later for any udpates to this report.

 

 

CHP receives $2 million federal grant to crack down on dangerous sideshows, street racing in state

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Sideshow in Antioch on May 29, 2021. Source: Antioch Police drone video screenshot

Helps fund the STREET III – Sideshow, Takeover, Racing, Education, and Enforcement Taskforce

By CHP Media Relations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) received $2 million in federal funding that will expand its major crackdown on dangerous sideshows and street racing statewide, holding participants and organizers accountable for reckless driving behaviors.

Federal funding for the Sideshow, Takeover, Racing, Education, and Enforcement Taskforce (STREET III) grant comes after the CHP received $5.5 million in state funding to combat illegal street racing and sideshow activities, resulting in a 40% decrease in illegal sideshow incidents from 2021 to 2022. The STREET III grant aims to reduce the number of fatal and injury traffic crashes attributed to reckless driving, street racing, and sideshows. The CHP will implement a public awareness campaign to tackle these unlawful activities and conduct specialized enforcement operations such as excessive speeding behaviors where motorists are traveling more than 100 mph on state highways. Last year, CHP officers participating in specialized speed enforcement operations from January 2023 to July 2024 issued over 30,000 citations to motorists exceeding 100 mph.

“Sideshows and street takeovers are reckless, criminal activities that endanger our communities and make streets less safe. We have seen too many people killed or hurt at these illegal events. California will continue to ramp up our efforts to crack down on sideshows. For anyone considering attending a sideshow: know that not only do you risk getting hurt at these events, but you also risk the potential loss of your vehicle,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

Since February, the CHP has made 1,125 arrests, seized 110 illegal guns, and recovered more than 2,000 stolen vehicles in Alameda County and the East Bay alone. Last month, Governor Newsom signed four bills into law that impose stricter penalties and strengthen law enforcement’s ability to combat sideshows and street takeovers.

“The CHP’s top priority is the safety of our communities. This new grant allows us to strengthen our efforts in addressing the growing issues of sideshows and illegal street racing, which endanger lives and disrupt neighborhoods,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “By increasing patrols, deploying advanced technology, and partnering with local organizations, we are committed to making our roads safer and holding those responsible for reckless driving accountable.”

Alongside allied agencies, the CHP established task forces to tackle the challenges posed by street racing and sideshows.  In addition, social media initiatives have been introduced to enhance public awareness regarding the dangers associated with aggressive driving behaviors, including illegal street racing and sideshows. The STREET III grant allows for a campaign starting this month through September 30, 2025.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s INNOVATE 680 Program to receive over $166 million mega-boost

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U.S. Representatives Mark DeSaulnier, Nancy Pelosi join CCTA Officials to announce DOT Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant for improvements

WALNUT CREEK, CA – Yesterday, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, U.S. Representatives Mark DeSaulnier and Nancy Pelosi joined regional transportation officials from Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to announce CCTA will receive over $166 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to improve mobility along the Interstate 680 (I-680) corridor. This mega-boost is the largest 2024 transportation award earmarked for California.

The funds will upgrade I-680, which is critical to the region’s economy and prosperity—providing for the movement of goods, services, and people throughout northern California and beyond. The federal investments to CCTA’s INNOVATE 680 project were made through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (US DOT) National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) Program.

“As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and longtime champion for policies that would reduce commute times, cut harmful pollution, and improve our quality of life, I was proud to advocate for this funding and am delighted it has been granted and will begin making a difference in the lives of Bay Area and California residents,” Congressman Mark DeSaulnier said. “I am thankful to CCTA and DOT for their partnership in working to improve transportation across our region.”

“When President Biden signed Democrats’ historic Infrastructure Law in 2021, it was an opportunity to strengthen our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, fund projects to address equity issues and create millions of good-paying jobs throughout America,” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said. “Thanks to Biden-Harris Administration’s MEGA grant program made possible by the Infrastructure Law, $166 million in federal funding is coming to the CCTA’s INNOVATE I-680 project to improve quality of life for people throughout the Bay Area. Democrats remain relentlessly committed to investing in America, building a fairer economy and delivering For The People.”

The highly competitive Mega Grant program funds major projects that are too large or complex for traditional funding programs and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. More information on the program is available here.

The federal funding will go toward CCTA’s INNOVATE 680 Program to address the northbound I-680 express lane gap from California State Route (SR) 24 to SR-242 and to convert the existing northbound high-occupancy vehicle lane from SR-242 to north of Arthur Road into an express lane. The project will also construct a braided ramp system between the North Main Street and Treat Boulevard interchanges in Walnut Creek to address an existing bottleneck caused by weaving and implement Coordinated Adaptive Ramp Metering for a 19-mile segment of Northbound I-680.
“CCTA is grateful for the efforts our federal delegates made to secure much needed federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for California infrastructure improvements,” CCTA Chair Newell Arnerich said. “Upgrading I-680 will truly improve our quality of lives as they ease congestion, make our roads safer, and boost our economy by creating 3,500 direct and indirect jobs per year for the duration of the projects.”

CCTA is Contra Costa’s congestion management agency. CCTA’s full project plan to alleviate congestion on I-680 may be found here.

“This is a monumental award for Contra Costa County and the greater Bay Area,” CCTA Executive Director Tim Haile said. “Thousands rely on this corridor and increased congestion has led to unacceptable delays. CCTA is excited to advance the I-680 corridor through focused modernizations that will maximize efficiency and promote shared transportation.”

“I-680 is one of the major north-south corridors in the San Francisco Bay Area and frequently ranks among our most congested corridors,” MTC Executive Director Andy Fremier said. “This $166 million grant will support projects that improve safety, smooth traffic, and increase access while aligning with federal, state and local safety, equity, and emissions goals.”

About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority:

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. CCTA is responsible for planning, funding, and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.