American Avenue gets test drive

by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer The well-known traffic gridlock along American Avenue and Balfour Road leading into Heritage High and Adams Middle School got a facelift over the summer school break, and city and school officials, along with parents, are hoping the changes will improve congestion and student safety. In the first portion of the project, an asphalt pathway was laid along the east side of American Avenue from Balfour Road extending south. The purpose was to create a safer alternative for pedestrians, bicyclists and skateboarders, who previously shared the roadway with cars. Next, American Avenue was re-striped to create an additional turn lane into the Heritage High School student parking lot. An extra lane heading southbound from Balfour Road to American Avenue was also created, bringing the number of turn lanes to three. On Monday, returning students and their families got their first chance to test drive the improvements, and the beauty of Signs alerting drivers and pedestrians to the new traffic procedures were in view during the first day of school at Heritage High. Additional turn lanes and an asphalt walkway were added over the summer to improve conditions at Heritage and nearby Adams Middle School. the project was in the eye of the beholder. "I would say today was probably the smoothest first day of school we've ever had,? said Brentwood Police Capt. James Martinez, who had a motorcycle officer in place to help drivers and pedestrians become acclimated to the new routine. "Of course there was some extra traffic today with the first day of school, but once everyone gets on the same page, it should go well. Today was a good day.? "Are they kidding?? said Sue (who asked that her last name be withheld), the parent of a junior at Heritage. "It took me literally 40 minutes this afternoon to pick up my child and get home. This morning we were in line on Balfour for half an hour. My daughter finally had to get out and use the crosswalk. I don't see how they can think this is better. They're full of it.? Bailey Grewel, director of public works for the city of Brentwood, was also on the scene the first day of school, and while he agreed there was some congestion, he still counted the improvements a success.

Grand Jury: Delta is a 'junkyard'

by Dave Roberts Staff Writer The Delta and other Contra Costa County waterways have become "aquatic junkyards? cluttered with abandoned boats and buildings that are not only a danger and an eyesore, but may also be polluting a major drinking-water source in California, a county Grand Jury has concluded. "There are places in the county where waterways, shorelines and adjacent land are littered with debris, abandoned vessels, docks and pilings, gutted mobile homes and houses that have fallen into the waterway,? the Grand Jury states in an investigative report, "Aquatic Junkyards Exist in Contra Costa County.? "Derelict vessels and many other abandoned objects in the county's waterways contain toxic substances. Examples include creosotetreated pilings, lead-acid batteries, fuel tanks, asbestos and lead paint. These vessels are often accompanied by junk and debris, including butane and propane tanks, kitchen appliances, tires, barrels, scrap iron and portable toilets.? "

I know, personally being a resident on the Delta, it's been a very important issue.

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County Supervisor Mary Piepho

The report criticizes county officials for not doing more to clean up its 200 miles of waterways and shoreline: "County enforcement of laws pertaining to these waterways is, at best, marginal. This has caused numerous problems. "Recreational and commercial vessels abandoned over the years are a threat to navigation and water quality. Trash of all kinds has been left in and adjacent to the waterways. Houses and docks have been built in locations not zoned for habitation. There are also abandoned, dilapidated commercial buildings and docks along the water's edge and many thousands of aging, creosote-treated pilings. "The county has dealt with the problem Photo by Richard Wisdom see American page 14A slowly in some instances, and not at all in others.? County Supervisor Federal Glover responded to the report's charges via e-mail, saying that prior to his taking office in 2000, no one in the county had taken action to clean up the waterways, and that he sponsored a county ordinance that fines boat owners who abandon their vessels and makes them repay the costs to haul them out. "I agree with the Grand Jury that the county could be doing more,? said Glover, "but because this issue was neglected for so long a time, the sheriff's office has had to play catch-up with those boat owners who saw the Delta as their dumping ground. "Some of the sunken vessels are not boats but are large ships - one is even a concrete ship - and removing them from the Delta and hauling them to land is an expensive process. It is not as easy as using a tow truck to pick up an abandoned car. The county must prioritize its work and use its funding where it can do the see Junkyard page 14A National Award Winning Newspapers

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