Contra Costa Herald

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

GoMentum Station named National Proving Ground by U.S. Department of Transportation

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Contra Costa testing facility selected to be part of first-ever “Community of Practice” for automated vehicle technology

GoMentum Station was named one of ten federally designated automated vehicle proving grounds by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The announcement was made by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on Thursday, January 19, who noted that the pilot sites were selected to encourage testing and information sharing around automated vehicle technologies, foster innovations that can safely transform personal and commercial mobility, expand capacity, and open new doors to disadvantaged people and communities. GoMentum Station was selected from more than 60 applicants to help advance the safe deployment of automated technology.

“We are honored to have been selected as part of this elite group of test facilities,” said Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Executive Director Randell Iwasaki. “When we established GoMentum Station a little over two years ago with our partners, our goal was to make it the country’s premier secure test facility of autonomous and connected vehicle technology. To be selected as a federally designated proving grounds is a confirmation of the significant value our facility adds to the field and its role in redefining the next generation of transportation.”

“The designated proving grounds will collectively form a Community of Practice around safe testing and deployment,” said Secretary Foxx. “This group will openly share best practices for the safe conduct of testing and operations as they are developed, enabling the participants and the general public to learn at a faster rate and accelerating the pace of safe deployment.”

Each of the ten sites have a unique testing environment. Among the qualities that set GoMentum Station apart is being one of the largest, secure proving grounds in the United States, which enables partners to safely push their technology to its limits while testing at GoMentum Station.  Founded in 2014, GoMentum Station is located at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station, making Contra Costa County a center of cutting-edge transportation research. The innovative technology being explored at GoMentum Station will reinvent the ways we will move through our communities over the next 25 years and beyond.

Contra Costa’s autonomous and connected vehicle testing facility is built on a public/private partnership model, allowing the private sector space to innovate and test while providing the public sector with access to new technologies as they are being developed. The work being carried out at GoMentum Station facilitates informed policy, regulation and planning decisions around the technology.

“We are excited that there may be opportunities to potentially collaborate with other test facilities around the nation.  If we can coordinate on testing, we can eliminate redundant and duplicative testing, learn from one another and accelerate our ability to bring this transformative technology to market,” noted Iwasaki. “We hope this designation will be valuable to our partners and the public in helping to further this life-saving technology. We’re looking forward to working with USDOT on advancing this technology for a public good.”

About GoMentum Station

GoMentum Station in Concord, California is where the Contra Costa Transportation Authority leads and facilitates a collaborative partnership among multiple automobile manufacturers; original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers; communications suppliers; technology companies; researchers and academia; public agencies and other partners. At GoMentum Station, technology, innovation and commercialization will converge to define the next generation of transportation network infrastructure. More information about GoMentum Station is available at gomentumstation.net.

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.

GoMentum Station in Concord announces new partnership with BestMile to advance driverless car project

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BestMile’s cloud-based computing platform will support and enhance efforts to solve the first-and-last mile challenge

GoMentum Station and BestMile announced a new partnership today to further the shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) pilot project aimed at addressing the first-and-last mile challenge in Contra Costa. BestMile will offer its cloud-based computing platform to support the operation and optimization of SAV fleets, including the full testing of EasyMile shuttles. The EasyMile shuttles arrived at GoMentum Station in September of 2016, and the pilot demonstration project with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority marks the first time EasyMile shuttles will be utilized in the United States. BestMile’s computing platform will not only allow the EasyMile shuttles to work more effectively together, it will facilitate the ability of riders to interface with the shuttles.

“GoMentum Station is putting Contra Costa and the Bay Area squarely at the center of the transportation technology revolution with this innovative project to address first and last mile transit accessibility challenges, which we hope will allow people to use transit and commuter rail more effectively and efficiently,” said Randy Iwasaki, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA). “We are excited to leverage BestMile’s unique technology capabilities to incubate transportation solutions that will help further shared mobility.”

“We believe the future of mobility isn’t in autonomous vehicles themselves, but in what they can offer when they’re operated and managed collectively in an integrated ecosystem. It is an incredible opportunity for BestMile to be able to showcase its fleet optimization platform within the framework of this exciting project at GoMentum Station, Bishop Ranch and then hopefully expand to the Bay Area. It will allow passengers of SAVs to experience a truly optimized, sustainable and efficient SAV service. Ordering your own SAV will be only one click away thanks to the traveler app we are also providing as part of our platform” said Raphael Gindrat, CEO of BestMile.

BestMile has created the world’s first cloud platform for the operation and optimization of autonomous vehicle fleets, designed to support shared electric connected and automated mobility. Using cutting-edge algorithms, it sends optimized missions to vehicles and seamlessly handles planning, real-time automated dispatching, intelligent routing, and electrical energy management. Their first commercial project launched in June 2016 with Switzerland’s main transport operator, PostBus. The collaboration with GoMentum Station marks the first time BestMile’s technology will be incorporated into a project within the United States and aligns with BestMile’s mission to accelerate innovative autonomous transportation solutions for cities everywhere.

About GoMentum Station

GoMentum Station in Concord, California is where the Contra Costa Transportation Authority leads and facilitates a collaborative partnership among multiple automobile manufacturers; original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers; communications suppliers; technology companies; researchers and academia; public agencies and other partners. At GoMentum Station, technology, innovation and commercialization will converge to define the next generation of transportation network infrastructure. More information about GoMentum Station is available at gomentumstation.net.

About BestMile

BestMile is a Swiss company with offices in Lausanne (Switzerland), San Francisco (USA) and London (UK), developing distributed and highly scalable cloud technology leveraging the full potential of autonomous vehicles to tackle urban mobility challenges. By providing the first platform allowing for the intelligent operation and optimization of autonomous vehicle fleets, BestMile is revolutionizing mobility. It manages both scheduled trips and on-­demand service and is independent of any vehicle manufacturer, thus allowing customers to remotely manage heterogeneous fleets composed of autonomous vehicles of different types and brands. By using cutting-edge algorithms to handle planning, real-time automated dispatching, intelligent routing, and electrical energy management, BestMile is shaping “individual robots” into an intelligent, innovative and flexible mobility system. After launching its first commercial project with Switzerland’s main transport operator in June 2016, BestMile now has a foot in the US thanks to GoMentum Station, located in Contra Costa County. More information is available at www.bestmile.com.

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.

County road closure updates – McEwen Road closed in West County

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McEwen Road is closed between Highway 4 and Carquinez Scenic Drive near Port Costa due to mudslides. The road is open to emergency vehicles only.

Alhambra Valley Road between Bear Creek Road and Castro Ranch Road is closed indefinitely.Signs and message boards will alert drivers of the closure. There is not an estimated timeframe for reopening Alhambra Valley Road at this time.Drivers are encouraged to use the routes on the map above as alternate routes for Alhambra Valley Road.

Morgan Territory Road is open to local traffic only between Marsh Creek Road and Manning Road is anticipated to reopen the week of January 23-30

The amount of rain received has saturated the soil which makes it more difficult to remove the mudslides and clean the roadways. Crews are monitoring County roads during the storms and additional closures may be necessary for public safety. The County will continue to provide updates as conditions change.

BART offers longer trains for inauguration-related events

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BART is taking steps to prepare for what are expected to be large crowds for Inauguration-related events in downtown Oakland and San Francisco. Longer trains will be available for riders all day Friday and Saturday.  BART also plans to have a few additional event trains on standby at key locations on Saturday ready to deploy if warranted by the size of the crowds.

Additional employees will be at the ready to assist BART riders during the next few days.  That includes more Station Agents at what are likely to be the busiest stations.  We will have extra technicians at the ready at those stations to make sure our ticket machines are working and to respond to any new elevator or escalator outages.  Also, additional officers and sergeants from the BART Police Department will be working through Saturday to help with crowd control.

Dozens of events are planned for the region starting Thursday night and continuing through Saturday.  We are expecting some our busiest stations to include 12th Street and Lake Merritt in downtown Oakland as well as Civic Center and Embarcadero in San Francisco.

Riders also play an important role in preparing for these busy travel days.  We strongly encourage everyone to either buy roundtrip tickets or use their Clipper cards.  Also, if you see something suspicious at a station, please tell BART police or a station agent.  If you see something say something.

The ceremonies for the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States will begin Friday morning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, 8:30 a.m. Paficic.

 

Due to storm damage Contra Costa County issues Proclamation of Local Emergency

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Contra Costa County Administrator David Twa on Thursday, January 19, 2017, signed a proclamation of local emergency in response to winter storm damage that has occurred in a variety of locations throughout the unincorporated parts of the County. The local emergency declaration will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for ratification in a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 26, at 8:30 a.m. The emergency status enables the County to be eligible for disaster relief funding that might be available in the future.

The strong series of storms has led to widespread flooding, mudslides, sinkholes and damage to public buildings, flood control facilities and roadways. Notably, Alhambra Valley Road remains closed between Bear Creek and Castro Ranch Roads. Signs and message boards remain in place to alert drivers; there is no estimate yet on a date for reopening Alhambra Valley Road.

Morgan Territory Road remains open only to local traffic between Marsh Creek and Manning Roads, with the goal of reopening entirely next week.

Some county roads reopened, Morgan Territory Road anticipated to reopen next week

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Contra Costa County has reopened the following roads:

  • Marsh Creek Road between the Clayton city limits and Deer Valley Road
  • McEwen Road between Highway 4 and Carquinez Scenic Drive

The following road is open to local traffic only:

  • Morgan Territory Road between Marsh Creek Road and Manning Road is anticipated to reopen the week of January 23-30

The closures were required due to mudslides and flooding concerns. The amount of rain received has saturated the soil which makes it more difficult to remove the mudslides and clean the roadways. Alhambra Valley Road between Bear Creek Road and Castro Ranch Road is closed indefinitely. Signs and message boards will alert drivers of the closure. There is not an estimated timeframe for reopening Alhambra Valley Road at this time. Drivers are encouraged to use the routes on the map below as alternate routes for Alhambra Valley Road.

If you’re concerned about flooding at your home or business, it’s not too late to visit one of the free sandbag stations located throughout the county.  Please note that you’ll need to bring a shovel, but bags and sand are available for free.   Find out details regarding County sandbag sites at www.cccounty.us/sandbags.

County Public Works Maintenance road crews maintain the storm drain inlets through a program of annual inspection and cleaning. To report a clogged catch basin or drainage inlet please call the Public Works Maintenance Division at 925-313-7000 during work hours and after hours call Sheriff’s Dispatch at 925-646-2441.

Important phone numbers and webpages:

(925)313-7000 Public Works Maintenance Division- For emergencies during normal business hours

(707)551-4100 California Highway Patrol- For emergencies after hours

(925)646-2441 Contra Costa County Sheriffs Dispatch- For emergencies after hours

http://www.cccounty.us/sandbags   –  Contra Costa County Sand Bag Locations

http://www.cccounty.us/5906/Winter-Storm-Preparedness-Winter Storm Preparedness

http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/5895/Flooding-Information-Flood Information

http://www.cccounty.us/332/FEMA-Floodplain-Program- FEMA Floodplain Program

http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1578/Flood-Forecast-Information-How to Flood Forecast

http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/5907/Flood-Preparedness-California Flood Preparedness

Richmond teacher convicted on 87 counts, including forcible child molestation, kidnap

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By Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney

Justice was served on January 12, 2017 when a jury returned guilty verdicts in the case against Ronald David Guinto.  Guinto, a former sixth grade science and math teacher at Making Waves Academy in Richmond, was charged with 90 counts related to repeated and long term child molestation of 13 charged and two uncharged victims between 2002-2013.  The jury found the defendant guilty as charged on 87 counts and hung on three counts.

In 2002, Guinto enticed his first victim through an AOL chat room to sneak out of his house and with Guinto in order to molest thethen 12-year-old boy.  The molestation occurred on multiple occasions, in both Santa Clara and Solano Counties.  Defendant was convicted of twenty nine counts of child molestation and kidnapfor acts committed with this victim.

Between 2008 and 2009, Ronald Guinto participated as a Cub Scout Pack Leader and Camp Counselor for summer camps and local Cub Scout troops in the greater San Jose area where he groomed and molested multiple victims.  Through Guinto’s contacts with the Boy Scouts, Guinto gained access to a church in San Jose where he kidnapped and took one of the charged victimsand molest him and showed him pornography.  Defendant was convicted of three counts related to the kidnap and molestation of this boy, also twelve.  Defendant also molested multiple uncharged victims from his Cub Scout Pack in his home and on camping trips.

In 2009, Ronald Guinto created a camp he called, “Camp Epic” as a project in his Master’s Program at Tuoro University.  In 2012, Guinto graduated from Tuoro University and began teaching at Making Waves Academy as a full time teacher.Ronald Guinto invited students at the school to join “Camp Epic,”and attend camping trips, adventure trips to amusement parks, and other overnight trips.  Ronald Guinto persuaded parents to allow these children to go with him alone overnight.  At the trips, Guinto molested children in tents, showed them pornography, and encouraged sexualized conversations.

The camping trips spanned multiple counties across Northern California, including, El Dorado, Placer, Mariposa, Santa Clara, Marin, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Napa, and Solano.  Guinto committed dozens of acts of sexual assault inside the tents during these camping trips on multiple victims.  Ronald Guinto had victims spend the night at his home, molested them and showed them pornography during his brief employment at Making Waves Academy between 2012-2013.

Deputy District Attorney Alison Chandler, the prosecutor on this case said,”The jury delivered verdicts of justice for all the victims in this case.  The courage and perseverance of these survivors inspires me.  I am proud of them.”

Wanted suspect leads Sheriff’s Deputies on pursuit on I-80 in West County, Friday night

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Sheriff seeks public’s helping in locating suspect

Eddie Nute

On Friday, January 13, 2017, at approximately 9:40 PM, Deputy Sheriffs in North Richmond attempted to stop a red Acura that was believed to be driven by 22-year-old Eddie Nute of Citrus Heights, who has a $1 million dollar arrest warrant for auto burglary and conspiracy with a gang enhancement.

The vehicle failed to yield and led Deputies on a pursuit, which headed westbound on Highway 80. While fleeing, the suspect collided with a minivan and did not stop. As the suspect approached the Bay Bridge, he struck a Mercedes, which lost control. A Deputy attempted to stop, however he collided into the back of the Mercedes. The pursuit was terminated.

The drivers of the two vehicles were transported to local hospitals as a precaution. The Deputy was not injured.

While on scene Deputies were notified that there was a nearby vehicle disabled in the median. It was later determined it was the wanted vehicle. The driver fled and is still outstanding.

Nute is described as African American, 5’, 7” tall, 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Nute is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message or email: tips@so.cccounty.us.

Supervisor Burgis announces committee, board and commission assignments

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Last Tuesday, January 10, 2017, County Supervisor Diane Burgis was officially sworn into office, representing District Three on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. The district includes most of Antioch, and all of Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Byron and Knightsen in East County, as well as Blackhawk, Diablo and Camino Tassajara in the San Ramon Valley.

“It’s truly an honor to have earned the trust and confidence of the voters of District Three,” said Supervisor Diane Burgis. “I’m excited to follow in the footsteps of East County’s loyal advocate, Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho, and to work hard for my constituents defending the Delta, improving public safety and strengthening our local economy.”

During last Tuesday’s meeting each board was also appointed to various county committee and regional boards and commissions. Supervisor Burgis was appointed to the following posts:

Chair:

  • Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee

Vice Chair:

  • Airport Committee
  • East County Transportation Planning (TRANSPLAN)
  • Internal Operations Committee
  • Legislation Committee
  • Open Space/Parks & East Bay Regional Parks District Liaison Committee
  • State Route 4 Bypass Authority

Commissioner:

  • Delta Protection Commission

Director:

  • Tri Delta Transit Authority Board

Member:

  • California Identification System Remote Access Network Board
  • City-County Relations Committee
  • Dougherty Valley Oversight Committee
  • East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy Governing Board
  • East Contra Costa Regional Fee & Finance Authority
  • East County Water Management Association
  • eBART Partnership Policy Advisory Committee
  • Northern Waterfront Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee

Alternate Member:

  • Association of Bay Area Counties Executive Board
  • Contra Costa Transportation Authority Board
  • Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)
  • Mental Health Commission
  • Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Board

In her first term, Diane’s policy priorities include:

  • Transportation infrastructure improvements and expansion
  • Responsible stewardship of natural resources, open space and the Delta
  • Preservation and revitalization of the county’s agricultural core
  • Faster police, fire and emergency response times
  • Efficient and effective delivery of county services

Prior to her election as a County Supervisor, Diane was the Executive Director of Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed and also served as:

  • Ward 7 Director of the East Bay Regional Park District
  • Oakley City Councilmember
  • Delta Protection Commission Member
  • Association of Bay Area Governments Regional Planning Committee Member

District 3 includes most of Antioch, and all of Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Byron and Knightsen in East County, as well as Blackhawk, Diablo and Camino Tassajara in the San Ramon Valley. Click here for additional information about the office of Supervisor Diane Burgis.

Two closed roads in county reopened Friday afternoon, one closed indefinitely

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Alhambra Valley Road between Bear Creek and Castro Ranch Roads closed indefinitely

Contra Costa County reopened Marsh Creek Road between the Clayton city limits and Deer Valley Road today. The following roads are open to local traffic only:

  • Morgan Territory Road between Marsh Creek Road and Manning Road (anticipated to reopen the week of January 23)
  • McEwen Road between Highway 4 and Carquinez Scenic Drive (anticipated to reopen this weekend on either January 21 or 22)

The closures were required due to mudslides and flooding concerns. The amount of rain received has saturated the soil which makes it more difficult to remove the mudslides and clean the roadways. Alhambra Valley Road between Bear Creek Road and Castro Ranch Road is closed indefinitely. Signs and message boards will alert drivers of the closure. There is not an estimated timeframe for reopening Alhambra Valley Road at this time. Drivers are encouraged to use the routes on the map below as alternate routes for Alhambra Valley Road.

If you’re concerned about flooding at your home or business, it’s not too late to visit one of the free sandbag stations located throughout the county. Please note that you’ll need to bring a shovel, but bags and sand are available for free. Find out details regarding County sandbag sites at www.cccounty.us/sandbags.

County Public Works Maintenance road crews maintain the storm drain inlets through a program of annual inspection and cleaning. To report a clogged catch basin or drainage inlet please call the Public Works Maintenance Division at 925‐313‐7000 during work hours and after hours call Sheriff’s Dispatch at 925‐646‐2441.

Important phone numbers and webpages:

(925) 313-7000 Public Works Maintenance Division- For emergencies during normal business hours

(707) 551-4100 California Highway Patrol- For emergencies after hours

(925) 646-2441 Contra Costa County Sheriffs Dispatch- For emergencies after hours

http://www.cccounty.us/sandbags   –  Contra Costa County Sand Bag Locations

http://www.cccounty.us/5906/Winter-Storm-Preparedness-Winter Storm Preparedness

http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/5895/Flooding-Information-Flood Information

http://www.cccounty.us/332/FEMA-Floodplain-Program- FEMA Floodplain Program

http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1578/Flood-Forecast-Information-How to Flood Forecast

http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/5907/Flood-Preparedness-California Flood Preparedness