Intermodal Station Construction Delayed
— by Jeffrey Wisniewski — 23 August 2010 — 10 comments below »
Environmental documents need to be finalized and certified prior to construction commencing for the Intermodal Station. The draft EIR was scheduled to be released earlier this year with construction slated to begin this summer. Alas, that will not happen (summer officially ends September 23). And there will likely be no press release.
It wasn’t too long ago — December 2007 — when then-Mayor Ed Balico stated unequivocally that construction on the station would begin that August (or August 2008), and that it was the hard work of the Council that made it happen…
Well, it has been that August plus two years. Should the station’s eventual construction — staff and Council remain adamant that the project will, in fact, happen at some point — still be considered an accomplishment for the City Council, or is it more appropriately labeled as a medium-sized public works project that was woefully mismanaged from the outset (originally scheduled to open in 2005; current estimate 2013)?
And are things only going to get worse? (It pains me to write this.)
The City does not yet own the land on which the station will be built. The City and the developer (AndersonPacific) are battling over the terms of the land swap and corresponding developer agreement (DOPA), and the two now-warring factions are currently at a standstill. The dissolution of the project team may lead to the station’s indefinite delay, leaving Waterfront residents, commuters and taxpayers in the lurch. Still.
I am appalled at the path this project has taken.
Shame on the leaders of Hercules in not being more diligent in looking at solutions for construction of the Intermodal Station. For the sake of the entire North Bay Region, get off the dime and make some concessions in the design and with the negotiations with the land owner.
Stop being full of yourself and trying to make this project a jewel for Hercules. This is NOT about Hercules. It is about serving the Region.
@ Dan Thomson of Rodeo — The Intermodal Station could be both (a public works project and a jewel), and it should serve Hercules first, the region second.
I beg to differ with you Jeffery. There were multiple sites that were looked at for a Intermodal Station to serve the entire North Bay. Hercules was chosen for that site, however it does not make it an Intermodal Station for “Hercules”.
If that is truly what you think; then my long standing argument of Hercules NOT being a team player and working towards Regional solutions is correct.
Need I remind you:
Hercules threatened BART with a lawsuit over a station being placed in your fine city. Now we do not have BART and 34 years later Hercules is playing catch up.
The placement of Pacific Refinery in 1965 as far away from Hercules as possible. Literally right against the back yard fences of your neighbors in Rodeo.
Allowing a “Mt Hercules” to be built at 32 ft above the adjacent homes so that the developer could bury toxic waste and put homes on top of it. Their CC&R’s state that food plants can not be planted in the ground on “Mt. Hercules”.
Allowing “Mt Hercules” to be built with out any drainage method (“V” ditches) to prevent potential contaminated storm run off from the site and into Rodeo Creek. Oh, and the potential contaminated water flows onto Garretson Ave and right past Rodeo Hills Elementary School.
Approving the placement of a Contra Costa County Building in Hercules without providing safe pedestrian access to that building. No sidewalks and trees that force pedestrians to walk in the traffic lanes of San Pablo Ave. “Pedestrian Friendly City”; not even close.
@ Dan Thomson — Some of those things you mention happened before I was born, but I do agree with you somewhat regarding Victoria by the Bay (or “Mt. Hercules” as you deride; a term with which I am unfamiliar).
As an urbanist, I do feel that the City missed an opportunity to tie the two neighborhoods together (with possible connections at the ends of Third, Harris and Lake, and at the bend in Garretson). Victoria by the Bay is suburban and arguably divides the two cities. (I had actually planned on writing about this and your comments may just prompt me to finally do it. I have also previously written about the suburban nature of the new library.)
The Hercules Waterfront however is New Urban, walkable, etc., or will be, and the community cares deeply about the quality of the station that is being built. And that is our prerogative. (It’s at least mine.)
Mr. Rodeo- Dan Thompson: You seem to be really resentful of Hercules. When the potential BART station was rejected, it was done so by a council without vision. Residents at that time just wanted Hercules to remain as a sleepy “no growth” town. Life goes on. Herculeans are trying to make the best out of what we have and can have. Why don’t you rouse up the people in Rodeo to do better?
The above writer seems to think our city staff/council is a role model..I think anonymous might want to stay away from that subject. Dan has it right with the history of Hercules with regard to Mt. Hercules and Bart. Gross error in judgement by the leaders in the earlier days and this council is on the same track of errors.
In my short response, I did not comment on our current city leaders. Most of them cannot think for themselves. Ed Balico has his fiefdom. So does Nelson Oliva. The others just go with the flow. As Hercules citizens, we do our part in criticizing our leaders and applauding them when they do good. This blog is good as we care. Mr. Rodeo has his own agenda and I think he should give a huge part of himself in helping Rodeo progress.
@ anonymous — This blog is marginal at best.
I am certainly a “Johnny come lately” in all of this but have dome some homework and am seeing a pattern developing in recent weeks. The City wants to buy out the developer of “hilltown” and become the “owner/developer”; but I am reliably informed that the reality is that the land will be traded to a commercial developer if the City “buys” it; Red Barn Inc. has publicly admitted an inability to obtain financing for Cinema Town and Transit Village (a $250 million deal) and indicates that any building is put off for an indefinite period; now there are reasons to fear that the Train Station and the Waterfront will be delayed for a substantial period. The City’s credit rating has slipped significantly in the meantime and City Hall is admitting that cuts must be made — finally. Is it any wonder I’m uncomfortable with the idea of voting for any incumbent in November?
The House of Cards is tumbling down like the pillars of Hercules crumbled. Another fine mess from Oliva Clan.