Kick-Off to Celebrate Hercules ITC, Work on Bay Trail

A scheduled event next week will celebrate two occasions related to the Hercules waterfront.

The Intermodal Transit Center Bayfront Kick-Off Celebration will be on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Bayfront Boulevard in Hercules.

The event marks last month's close of escrow on the acquisition of the ITC property and work on the initial phase of work on the San Francisco Bay Trail project. The ITC project includes infrastructure improvements for the bus and rail elements of the project.

The ITC is planned to be a public transit hub for trains, ferries and buses, but on its feasibility. Uncertainties include questions about funding construction, needed dredging and operation costs. The burden of paying for it could be shared by the city, development impact fees, state and federal grants and funding from regional groups such as the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.

The project also would rely on the construction of new housing, commercial and retail development at the city's waterfront.

In November last year, the Hercules City Council approved a contract with Hercules Bayfront, LLC. to purchase 13 acres of land for the development of the ITC for just under $2.8 million.

The concept for the project has been around for at least 20 years.