Richmond Parkway Gets Makeover

News Articles
02/07/2006

LA riders are getting a glimpse of the long awaited makeover of the Richmond Parkway Transit Center (RPTC). Workers have begun installing underground power lines to the bus island, and soon a guard station and security cameras will be installed along with new bus shelters and bike lockers.

This comes after a steady decline of the site over the last few years. Once Greyhound moved its ticket office and employees out of the Transit Center, there was no security presence there during the day. Although the area is well lit and near an active shopping center, vandals began destroying the bus shelters, and broken glass and graffiti have since become a common sight.

AC Transit has been working on a long-term solution to the problem since 2000 when the LA line was first introduced to the RPTC. Almost immediately there were more riders than parking spaces, and problems ensued when commuter parking overflowed into the Hilltop Plaza’s parking area.

AC Transit tried leasing parking space from both Hilltop Plaza and Hilltop Mall, but both entities were unwilling to help. After years of negotiations with the City of Richmond and Caltrans, AC Transit succeeded in putting together a plan that will eventually replace the current 206 parking spaces with a 700+ space parking garage.

This involved the formation of a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), with AC Transit, Westcat and the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee ultimately taking over control of the RPTC from Caltrans. The JPA then worked to get Regional, State and Federal transportation funds to pay for the project, and now riders will finally begin to see the results of years of planning and negotiation.

Meanwhile, to resolve the immediate security and maintenance problems, AC Transit is leading the JPA in providing a full time, on-site security staff. Security guards will soon patrol the lot 16 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Landscape and maintenance crews will also service the area regularly, and riders will have someone on-site in the security office to assist them.

To cover the operating costs of the staff and equipment, the RPTC will begin charging a nominal daily fee for parking. Ticket machines will be installed on the bus island once the lot has been secured and re-striped. Parking fees will only be collected on weekdays, and set at a level to only offset actual costs.

Neither AC Transit nor the JPA will profit from the parking fees, which are expected to be a few dollars a day. For those not wishing to pay to park, the Hilltop Park and Ride lot will still be available for free.