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By Kent Deverell

Bob Franklin, Rockridge’s representa- tive on the BART board, said that in 2006 the rail system will begin charging $1 to park at its lots. He also described a new “Translink” debit card good for travel on either BART or AC Transit that will inte- grat...

Response from BART Director Bob Franklin, District 3 (Includes Rockridge)

By Bob Franklin

of the three redwood trees. The remaining planter had to be covered with mulch and Bill Castellon directs placement of 12 tons of plaza boulders. /Bob Franklin ➧➧BART Plaza, page 4 Councilmember Brunner Hosts Final Picnic Early Plaza Planning Laid the Groundwork by Teresa Drenick, former RCPC Planning Committee member and UnderBART chair Last year, Bob Franklin told me that plans were afoot for t...

By Bob Franklin

by Bob Franklin, manager of customer access, BART The Rockridge BART Plaza renovation project broke ground May 20, 10 years after its initial envisioning by the group UnderBART, sponsored by RCPC. Golden Bay Construction, the Hayward company awarded the p...

By Bob Franklin

...veryone is invited. Big Build volunteers and other volunteers: plan to join us to celebrate this milestone. E-mail info@frogpark.org for more information or to offer help on the organizing committee. ☞ More details and FROG News: Page 9 by Bob Franklin, BART boardmember The renovation of Rockridge BART Plaza will finally begin construction around mid-April, nine years after being initially conceived as a community vision to improve the area under Highway 24 and the BART tracks on College...

By Bob Franklin

by Bob Franklin, BART board president Plans to redesign Rockridge Plaza, the area at the base of the escalators lead- ing to the Rockridge BART station, are finally moving forward. Working with the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC), the Rockridg...

By Bob Franklin

Halloween Parade, page 4 ➧➧ by Bob Franklin, BART board member B ART is entering the last phase of its seismic upgrade contract for the Rockridge Station, retrofitting the columns in the east parking lot. This work is sched- uled to last until January 2010. Work also is beginning ar...

By Bob Franklin

Keeping Up With BART by Bob Franklin, BART director, District 3 Temporary BART Parking at Trader Joe’s New Site Ihave any ideas or concerns about impacts, please let me know soon, as plans are being finalized. Parking Lot Repaving BART plans to repave the western and the atte...

By Bob Franklin

...nes Later this summer, BART will offer direct service on the Pittsburg-Bay Point line into SFO, so you will not have to transfer if you take BART to the airport from Rockridge. Long term parking will also be available in BART parking lots. Bob Franklin is the BART Director for District 3,

By Bob Franklin

BART Update BART to Charge Parking Fees Beginning in December by Bob Franklin, District 3 BART Director (Rockridge) A RCPC K-Tour 2005 s your Rockridge representative on the BART Board of Directors, I want to give you an update on the latest developments at BART and at the Rockridge Station. Parking Charges Charges ...

By Bob Franklin

which includes Rockridge. E-mail: BobFranklin- BART@aol.com, visit WWW.BobforBART.com or phone 510/684-0026. Rockridge Located on Market Hall’s Lower Level Entry on Shafter Avenue 510-655-8808 Open 7 Days Mon- Fri 6:00 -7:30 Sat & Sun 8:00 - Noon Free Parking! Across from BART • • • • ...

...ndifferent to the welter of construction warning signs, a pedestrian detours around safety barriers and into College Avenue traffic. Responding to concerns raised in the letter above, BART representatives, including Rockridge area Director Bob Franklin, asked for changes from the contractor and the city to improve the traffic flow and pedestrian safety around the barriers. Franklin’s letter appears below. Photo: Don Kinkead

...c transit to fulfill their travel needs. According to recent figures from BART, ridership has increased dramatically. To smooth the passenger surge, BART has introduced system-wide and station-specific initiatives. In the following report, Bob Franklin, BART Direc- tor for District 3, which includes Rockridge, discusses BART service initiatives, Rockridge BART station improvements and the status of Rockridge-area projects with which BART has been involved. Bob Franklin Photo: B. Franklin...

BART opened in 1972. BART and Rockridge Bob Franklin is a resident of Rockridge and member of the BART board of directors. In December, the board unanimously elected Franklin as its new president. He is the first former BART employee to serve as board president. Franklin said that BART has m...

...duled to last through June, 2009. During the course of BART’s seismic safety work, if additional concerns arise, please feel free to contact me for an imme- diate response. Thank you once again for letting BART know of this safety concern. Bob Franklin BART Director, District 3 E-mail: BobfranklinBART@aol.com Cell: 510/684-0026 http://www.BobForBART.com For urgent matters, please call 510/874-7425. The Rockridge News welcomes letters to the editor. Your

Mon – Fri 7 – 7 • Sat 8 – 6 Across from Zachary’s Pizza EXPERT SHIRT LAUNDERING! Bob Franklin is the BART Director for District 3, which includes Rockridge. Phone: 510/684-0026; E-mail: BobFranklinBART@aol.com; Website: www.BobforBART.com.

By Carroll Moore

...Greer Alley, who not only conceived most of the plans but has also been spending countless hours making sure all of the details of the project are being followed. /Carroll Moore    
 
  ­ 24 Bob Franklin, BART Board of Directors. Mail: BobFranklinBART@aol.com. Cell: 510/684-0026.   

... Annual Rockridge in the Snow Day, and the holiday tree lighting of the redwood trees on BART property. ■ ■Contact BART Director Please feel free to contact me with your BART concerns or questions: BobFranklinBART@aol.com or 510/684- 0026. Bob Franklin is the BART director for District 3, which includes Rockridge. He is also a Rockridge resident. Visit the RCPC Website for News and Events: rockridge.org

...tunities for community garden projects or other ideas that community members may have. Please contact me with any questions or concerns via my cell phone at 510/684-0026, or e-mail me at BobFranklinBART@aol.com. Keith Avenue College Avenue Bob Franklin is a Rockridge resident and president of the BART board of directors. Escalator D. Kinkead Above: Rockridge Plaza as it now appears, viewed from BART’s escalator.

...tems here than for the same items sold in their Emeryville store. What does that say about their attitude toward the people in Rockridge? — Lydia Gans “Horrific” Train/Track Noise from BART Rockridge (A copy of this letter to BART Director Bob Franklin was forwarded to The Rockridge News for publication. Director Franklin’s reply follows. – Editor) Dear Bob: When we met about a year ago at an RCPC board meeting, I mentioned to you that the track noise at the Rockridge BART station was ho...

By Don Kinkead

project, said she found it a successful design. Project presenters Greer Alley, Bob Franklin of BART, Sara Wilson of Market Hall and RDA, and Ann Winterman of RCPC said money for the project and approval for the plans are in place. Franklin, a Rockridge resident and an early project supporter, obtained BART support and funding. Co...

...al “reports from the committees” and community feedback. Check out what RCPC has been up to in 2010, and let us know what you think we should (or shouldn’t) be doing in 2011: In the January 2009 Rockridge News, District 3 BART board member Bob Franklin wrote of the early stages of the transit agency’s system-wide seismic retrofit. In this issue, two years later, Franklin, now board president, reports on the progress of the construction in Rockridge, and discusses other BART projects in t...

Rockridge Makes Room for One More; RCPC Chair Takes on New Roles R CPC Chairwoman Jessica Pitt and her husband, Bob Franklin, who represents our own District 3 on the BART board of direc- tors, happily announce the birth of Ivan Alexander Franklin. Born a bit early, on February 10, Ivan is already a man about town. A regular at the Farmer’s Market, baby Ivan als...

...50. Smart Parking will likely occur in 2007 and will include strengthening station structures as well as bracing the columns supporting the tracks, similar to how Caltrans strengthened the columns supporting Highway 24. Noise BART Director Bob Franklin. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MR. FRANKLIN

..., residents in the three BART counties voted to levy a new prop- erty tax to pay for the $1.3 billion cost to seismically retrofit the BART system. The program is underway with work beginning on the Transbay tube. Retrofitting at Rockridge Bob Franklin is the BART Director from District 3, which includes Rockridge. Bob can be reached

By Rebecca Saltzman

...ut the new Rockridge BART plaza, which connects the BART station to the surrounding neighborhood and adds inviting public open space. I greatly appreciate the hard work and the vision of the Rockridge community and my predecessor, Director Bob Franklin, in making this project happen. I will work with the Rockridge community to further improve the BART station and BART service, and I’d love to hear your ideas. Please e-mail me at RebeccaForBART@ gmail.com or leave a phone message for me a...

By Judith Doner Berne

...ioning his new position as the vote totals confirm his win. “We will see in Dan as a councilmember the same qualities that he exhibited during his campaign: hard working, creative, strategic, respectful and filled with integrity,” predicts Bob Franklin, a friend and neighbor.

board of directors who worked with the neighborhood to complete the project. “Without Bob Franklin, this never would have happened,” Wilson said. And interim BART Board District 3 Director Mary King lauded Oakland Councilwoman Jane Brunner. “She was critical in getting the city to participate in the project,” King said. It’s been 10 yea...

...criticism of the project, Alley is practical: “You can’t please everyone.” In her residential landscape business she finds, “a couple has a few different ideas. A community has a thousand different ideas.” The plaza dedication also honored Bob Franklin, a former member of BART’s LAW OFFICES OF KYLE M. JOHNSTON 5315 COLLEGE AVE. OAKLAND, CALIF. 510.527.1880 CALL FOR YOUR FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION PROBATE LAW ♦ WILLS & TRUSTS ♦ FAMILY LAW Judy Berne welcomes your comments and column

Join FROG’s Earth Day and 10th Anniversary Celebration BART Plaza Construction Nears BART board member Bob Franklin, who represents Rockridge, holds an image of the compass rose m e d a l l i o n t o b e embedded in the walkway near the BART Plaza to be built in the ivy area. The emblem symbolizes the myriad travel destinations available from the Rockri...

BART Update: Changes, Plans, Activities ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY 5366 College Avenue 597-5017 HOURS: Mon, Tues: Weds, Thurs, Sat: Friday: Sunday: Library program details: See Calendar, page 15. by Bob Franklin, director, BART District 3 The ivy at the base of the escalator will be replaced with native plants, lighting will be improved, seating added, a decorative compass rose will be installed, and the overall area will have a greater community ...

..., Ronnie Spitzer, Ann Winterman Contact the Board: chair@rockridge.org B o b F r a n k l i n , BART District 3 boardmember and Rockridge resident, pictured with newly- built accessible fare gates at the Rockridge station. Photo Courtesy of Bob Franklin ■ ■Pigeon Abatement Program This past month, BART maintenance workers removed roosting areas for pigeons, especially where this was a conflict with pedestrians along College Avenue. Although

...e Planning Commission must make mandatory find- ings for each that includes a finding that the proposed project will be compatible with, and not adversely affect the livability BART Station is Not a Garden Editor and [BART Board President] Bob Franklin: I am writing concerning the design for Rockridge Plaza by the BART station (Rockridge News, July 2, 2011). My husband and I live on Shafter, use BART several times a week and frequent Market Hall on a daily basis. I am not in favor of a h...

By Stuart Flashman

..., thanks to Rockridge and Temes- cal neighbors and friends. For more D. Kinkead Makeover for BART Area at Keith and College Designer Greer Alley, left, Market Hall owner Sara Wilson, RCPC boardmember Ann Winterman, and BART board President Bob Franklin present the BART Plaza proposal at the April RCPC Town Hall. Story on page 10. ➧➧Earth Day at FROG Park, page 12

BART and Rockridge in 2011 BART Board President Bob Franklin Reports on Current Projects to service as quickly as possible following a major earthquake. Work to strengthen the Rockridge Station was completed in late 2009. Construction on the last two remaining columns in the west Rockridge parking l...

...res and detours with the city. BART also continues to work with Chabot Elementary School to provide information about construction in the area for students and parents. Work in this area will continue through spring 2011. Photo courtesy of Bob Franklin ■ ■The Clipper card (the smart card that is used to pay fares on eventually all Bay Area transit operators) now can be used to conveniently pay BART fares and to pay for parking at BART lots. caused by retrofit work. Construction on a rema...

... city. Susan Bernosky, RDA president, welcomed new members, includ- ing Monte McClain, new pastor of the College Avenue Presby- terian Church. We spoke on the RDA’s accomplishments for 2010. We acknowledged our successful partnerships with Bob Franklin of BART and with the RCPC. We were pleased to report that the RDA has facilitated the trim- ming and maintenance of our 140 or so trees on College Avenue, a responsibility we took on due to the city’s budgetary constraints. This project is...

By Ann Winterman

...the space in identifying Rockridge. Photo: D. Kinkead project and RDA has pledged a matching $20,000. BART is putting up the bulk of the funding of this nearly quarter-million-dollar project, in the works since BART District 3 board member Bob Franklin helped to earmark parking money for it years ago. For more information, to adopt a design element set forth in the plan or to make contributions in kind, contact Ann Winterman, RCPC board member and RCPC Parks Committee chair, at annwinter...

...owing the restoration of the basketball courts. The contractor resurfaced both courts and reinstalled the three backboards and the ADA-accessible ball return. New nets are expected soon as well. Also, the entire dog park area is re-opened. Bob Franklin, the BART director who represents the neighborhood, worked actively with us to ensure the new basketball courts were fully  Damage to mural “Oceanus.”

...on.” Responding to resident’s concerns, Zac Wald, chief of staff for City Council Presi- dent Jane Brunner, promptly organized and hosted a meeting to bring together Rockridge residents, representatives from RCPC and RDA, BART board member Bob Franklin, Oakland Transportation Services staff with AC Transit Director-at-Large Chris Peeples, Deputy Director Nancy Skowbo, and several Transit Service Development staff. The meeting offered an opportunity for a frank discussion of residents’ co...

By Don Kinkead

Photo: Don Kinkead RCPC Board, page 6 ¤ ¤ by Don Kinkead District 3 BART Board Direc- tor and Rockridge resident Bob Franklin, above, points to the beginnings of the Rockridge sta- tion seismic retrofit construction program. When the project is com- pleted, the station and tracks will be able to withstand a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. Proceding in stages, the retro...

...ters office. The representative did say that the number of customers opposed to the policy was about equal to the number who support it. The representative also denied that prices for the same items varied in different Trader Joe’s stores. Bob Franklin Replies: Thanks for the e-mail. We are mea-

...ve this problem, as someone else also recently e-mailed me about this. When I hear from our maintenance department, I will update you. In the meantime, please feel free to check in on the status of this problem. Sorry for the disruption. — Bob Franklin A Rockridge resident and Trader Joe’s shopper found the store’s policy on solicitation at the entrance to be offensive and inconsistent. Store management said community sentiment about the sign seemed to be equally divided. Photo: Lydia G...

BART and Rockridge: A Report from BART Director Bob Franklin

..........................Editor Ortrun Niesar.....................The Muse Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig.... Writer Barry Kaufman...................Food Jo Ellis...................................Advertising & Focus: Rockridge BART Plaza Plans by Bob Franklin, BART Boardmember, and Stephanie Upp, RCPC Boardmember Amunity bulletin board Additional lighting to the area under the dark overpasses Additional benches Ivy removal and landscaping Fenced-in play area for tots A community-driven, profess...

...and put in a kiosk. from page  of BART riders and plaza pedestrians con- firmed these priorities. The recent Town Hall was the project’s first concerted effort since that time. To get involved or to submit your com- ments, please contact: Bob Franklin, BART Board Member:

By Matthew Wadlund

Standing Room Only as Temescal Considers Major Developments Town Hall from page  by Matthew Wadlund Mdents know that plans also are incubating for more large development along Telegraph and Claremont Avenues. Bob Franklin, BART Board of Direc- tors, will discuss new funding streams available to improve the beauty and security of our local station. He will also provide initial ideas—such as ivy removal, a kiosk with real- time train information and greater a...

By Kent Deverell

...ransit issues. tion for the November election, RCPC will host a voter education forum. As issues of interest arise, RCPC will schedule community meetings on the off months, such as the recent successful trans- portation forum held in June. Bob Franklin, Rockridge’s representa- tive on the BART board, said that in 2006 the rail system will begin charging $1 to park at its lots. He also described a new “Translink” debit card good for travel on

By Kent Deverell

...n and set rates good for travel anywhere in particular zones. BART is scheduled to conduct a seismic retrofit program in 2008 that might provide an opportunity for RCPC’s UnderBART committee to pursue improvements at the Rockridge station. Franklin also said BART will reduce train noise by smoothing the rails the electric paddles ride on. For updates: bobfranklinbart@aol.com. CalTrans project manager Cristina Ferraz (510/286-3890; http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/ caldecott) explained that th...

section of Claremont Avenue and Hudson Street was scheduled to be completed in late December, with site restoration of the area to follow. Please feel free to contact me with any BART concerns or questions that you may have. E-mail: BobFranklinBART@aol.com Cell: 510/684-0026. ■ ■The Ed Roberts Campus will open up this spring at the Ashby Station. It will be a fully accessible office building, focused on creating independent lifestyles for persons with disabilities. ■ ■Hardy Park: ...

BobFranklinBART@aol.com or 510/684-0026; Stephanie Upp, RCPC Board Member: RCPC_UnderBART@yahoo.com or 510/594-0755. Long-term major changes to this area require securing a grant or a new funding source, which is not unprecedented. The recent remarkabl...

by email at BobFranklinBART@aol.com or by phone at 510/655-1210. One of the things that a former committee of Rockridge citizens called the “UnderBART committee” wanted to do was to remove the  !   !     !    

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