City Looking At Possible Improvements To Section Of BART Path Where Woman Was Assaulted

City officials are looking into possible changes for a section of the El Cerrito BART path where a woman was assaulted earlier this month.

Yvetteh Ortiz, the city's interim public works director, said her department will pursue funding to pay for better lighting and other improvements on the trail north of the BART station.

Ortiz added the city will look into the possibility of trimming the vegetation along that section of the path.

Ortiz said the city was awarded a $3.5 million federal transportation grant earlier this year to renovate the path along the Ohlone Greenway between El Cerrito's two BART stations.

The improvements there will be much like the current work being done on the trail south of the El Cerrito Plaza station. Those improvements include installing LED lights that provide more visibility.

If more grant money becomes available, similar upgrades could be done to the section of the trail where the attack happened.

The assault occurred on Sept. 9 as the victim walked northbound on the trail. The assailant tried to drag her into some nearby bushes, but a neighbor heard the woman's screams and scared off the suspect.

Patch readers reacted by saying the vegetation along the trail gives criminals a place to hide. They also said the lighting is weak and more police patrols are needed.

El Cerrito Police Lt. Paul Keith said violent crime along the entire BART path actually decreased from 2008 to 2012.

In 2008, there were more than 30 such crimes along the trail. In 2012, there were less than five.

Keith said one reason is the police department increased its bike patrol along the trail in 2009 and 2010.

Another is the closure of part of the trail due to the improvement project.

Keith said the rehabilitated section of the trail will also have a vegetation plan that allows for better "line of sight" for people using the paths.

He added his department increases patrols periodically along the trail. He also urged people to immediately call police if they see a suspicious person or feel unsafe while on the trail.