The Contra Costa Times has picked up on the story of the Szabo plan…

Hercules to discuss transit center

Development of a Hercules Multi-Modal Transit Center will be the subject of a community meeting at City Hall Monday night.

The discussion will kick off a series of eight Hercules Redevelopment Agency-sponsored community meetings on the transit center, the last on April 26. Meeting venues will include the Hercules Library, community centers and homeowners association clubhouses.

The transit center would include an Amtrak Capitol Corridor station, a terminal for ferry service to San Francisco and a zone for buses.

On Tuesday, the Hercules City Council will consider an application for federal funds to help in the construction of the Hercules railroad station and a parking structure; the item is on the consent calendar.

Some residents of the Waterfront district worry the application could commit the city to build an automobile-oriented transit center with a convention center and large parking garage envisioned by a consultant to the city, George Szabo and Associates; that concept clashes with one that is more pedestrian-friendly put forward by AndersonPacific LLC, the developer of the Hercules Bayfront neighborhood that would include the transit center.

City Councilman Ed Balico said Friday the application would serve as a place-holder to put Hercules in line for federal funds and that it would not commit the city to any particular plan or design.

Both Monday’s and Tuesday’s meetings will be at 7 p.m. in the Hercules City Council Chamber, 111 Civic Drive.

– Tom Lochner

Source: Contra Costa Times