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Contra Costa, Calif., Officials Still See Long Road for BART Pathway

Posted on: Thursday, 18 August 2005, 21:00 CDT

Aug. 18--PLEASANT HILL - Contra Costa County officials may still face a long path as they move on a commuter shortcut for bicyclists and walkers making their way to the Pleasant Hill BART station.

The shortcut path goes from Las Juntas Way to Bancroft Road at David Avenue. It goes along the BART right of way on the northwest side of the tracks, which has neighbors within Walnut Creek's Clemson Court concerned about the loss of privacy and security issues.

"We do not want public access to our court, and we want fencing so that this path is blocked," said Donna Herriman, who lives on Clemson. "I don't want to see, hear or have people be able to see or hear us."

About 30 people attended a public workshop Tuesday that was held in conjunction with the county BART Municipal Advisory Council meeting. The council voted against making any recommendations until the project was further along.

The project has been in the works since 2003, though the concept came up with the BART specific plan in 1997. It is supposed to make the Contra Costa Centre BART station, currently called the Pleasant Hill BART station, area more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly while improving access to and from the area, specifically the northeast area of the station.

"We're not talking about a major connection, just one from a neighborhood to the BART," said Tim Gilbert, design consultant for the project.

Other concerns centered on lighting along the path and the lack of an "escape route" in case of an emergency. As it is designed now, long portions of the path would be fenced on either side.

"I would rather see no fencing on Clemson Court in order to have that feeling that you could run out into the street for safety issues," said attendee Dave Favello.

County and BART officials said they would look at the possibility of installing emergency phone lines like those on college campuses as well as proper fencing that could appease everyone. A draft report on the roughly $675,000 project states that regular users of this public space would create a "policing effect," where people would be around to report suspicious activity.

A bridge would be installed to allow security vehicles over a creek. Signs will be posted to encourage users.

The proposal will eventually have to go before the County Board of Supervisors for a final approval, but county officials first plan to meet with key members of the jurisdictions that the project falls in. That includes Concord and Walnut Creek, which could be the jurisdiction that will oversee the path in the future.

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Copyright (c) 2005, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.

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Source: Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.)

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