Antioch Press_03.26.10

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Your Hometown Web Site www.thepress.net

ward Winning News al A pa

YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Vol. 10, No. 13

City seeks guarantees for eBART

Purple meadow majesties

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March 26, 2010

This Week Auto lovers get it in gear

by Dave Roberts Staff Writer The City Council approved a resolution Tuesday seeking five assurances from the BART Board regarding the planned 10-mile eBART line in the Highway 4 median from the Bay Point BART Station to Hillcrest Avenue in Antioch. • That maximum access for cars, bicycles and pedestrians be provided to the Hillcrest Station. • That the maintenance tunnel leading out of the Highway 4 median just past the Hillcrest Station be designed to allow for expansion of the tunnel to accommodate eBART trains if it’s decided in the future to extend eBART out of the median. • That BART officials support the city’s effort to get a new interchange built on Highway 4 at Philips Lane in order to provide more access to the Hillcrest Station. • That BART officials hire East County resi-

Looking for a reliable mechanic or some deals on wheels? Our Spring Auto Care guide puts you in the fast lane. Page 1B Photo by Ger Erickson

ast County’s wet winter has set the table for an extravagant banquet of wildflowers flooding meadows and hills with the sights and scents of spring. The display of miniature lupine above was captured at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve on Somersville Road.

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dents to perform at least a quarter of the eBART construction work. • That planning begin on extending eBART beyond Hillcrest, probably 2½ miles southeast in the Highway Bypass median to Laurel Road in Oakley. BART projections show that the extension would result in a 40-percent rid-

ership increase for eBART. The council’s resolution states that “the Hillcrest area is not an ideal site for a long-term end-of-the-line station.” The last request resulted in a debate be-

Staff Writer

Source: eTranzUSA

A private company is proposing to provide mass transit, possibly to Discovery Bay, for half the cost of eBART.

Online Now!

When eBART was initially proposed in 2000, transportation officials envisioned that by 2010 there would be light-rail, diesel-powered trains traveling 23 miles from the Bay Point BART Station to Byron, stopping at stations along the way in Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood. Unfortunately, the most that will be happening this year is construction of an eBART transfer platform at the Bay Point BART Station. The $500 million project was delayed and scaled back a couple years ago when Union Pacific Railroad refused

www.thepress.net Your Hometown Web Site

A team of high-tech East County sleuths investigate paranormal unrest so residents can rest easy. Page 4A

Dynasty in progress

see eBART page 15A

East County officials hear high-tech transit proposal by Dave Roberts

Who you gonna call?

to allow eBART trains to travel on its Mococo Line through far East County. Without access to an existing track, officials agreed that there was only enough funding to extend eBART 10 miles down the Highway 4 median from Bay Point BART to Antioch, with stations at Railroad and Hillcrest avenues. It could take many years for eBART to reach Oakley, let alone Brentwood or Byron, unless hundreds of millions more transportation dollars are found – a tall order for a federal government mired $12.6 trillion in debt and California struggling with a $20 billion deficit. But a private company has come

Frugal unions

go to news/WebExtras! A financial pro says banks aren’t the only lending institutions in town.

see Transit page 15A

Tuition tuneup

go to news/press releases A vehicle maintenance service is helping high school seniors pay for college.

Deer Valley fans are enjoying a golden age of volleyball as their team continues to take a liking to the spiking. Page 19A

Plus: Auto Care Guide................ 1B Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Entertainment ................... 9B Food .................................... 10B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Milestones ........................11A Opinion ..............................16A Sports .................................19A

FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A

Diabetes defied go to multimedia/videos

Active 4 Diabetes held an event that raised awareness – and a little sweat.


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