Yesterday, City manager Bill Lindsay informed the City Council that Toyota had chosen Benicia instead of Richmond for its automobile port and transshipment operation:

“I was advised today by Jim Matzorkis that Toyota has selected the Port of Benicia to handle their auto warehousing operations  -- not the Port of Richmond.  According to Jim, the most important factors in the decision were rail service issues that gave Benicia a competitive advantage over Richmond.”

“Jim worked very hard on this proposal so that the City Council would be able to consider this lease option, and should be acknowledged for his outstanding efforts.”

For background on some of the issue this potential deal would have precipitated, see Will Richmond Blow Off Ferry Terminal Opportunity?, June 4, 2005, and Planning Crisis at Marina Bay, April 5, 2005.

Hopefully, we can refocus on the mixed use, transit oriented and job rich development previously envisioned for the Marina Bay and south shoreline area.