Buoyed by voter approval of local and regional funding measures, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA) has taken the first steps to put new ferry service in place between South San Francisco and the East Bay by 2008. The East Bay terminal for the new route will probably be the existing ferry facilities at Jack London Square, or possibly one of the Alameda ferry terminals, contributing to a relatively quick start for the new route.
Although the South San Francisco/East Bay route was listed only as a "route for study" in the WTA's Final Implementation and Operations Plan produced in July 2003, it has risen to the top of the list because of dedicated local support and additional future ridership data gathered through employers. San Mateo businesses made a strong push for passage of San Mateo's sales tax extension in November, which includes funding for "cost effective ferry service" to South San Francisco and Redwood City. Over 24,000 employees work within 3 miles of the Oyster Point marina, the projected South San Francisco ferry terminal site. Many of these employees commute from the East Bay.
The scoping meetings and comment period for the environmental impact study for Oyster Point took place in January 2005, and the draft report is expected by Summer 2005. Concerns that will be addressed include traffic and parking, vibration and noise from construction and operation of the terminal and operation of the ferries, energy use, and impacts on nearby public parklands including the Oyster Point Marina/Park and the Bay Trail. While dredging is not needed, aquatic life could be affected in other ways.
Meanwhile, the WTA expects to release a solicitation for bids for its first new vessels, which will be spares. Two 149-passenger vessels will be needed to serve the South San Francisco/East Bay route. Those vessels will have to meet strict environmental emission standards set by the WTA that exceed the federal EPA's diesel emission standards for 2007 by 85%.
Funding will be provided through San Mateo County's Measure A ($30 million), Regional Measure 2 ($12 million for 2 new ferries), and $2 million in federal funding earmarked for a ferry vessel. Approximately $18 million will be needed from the City of South San Francisco and other sources to build a terminal. The San Mateo Transportation Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission will review the plans to verify that the tax and toll moneys will be used as voters intended.
Regional Measure 2 included $12.6 million per year in operating subsidies for service between San Francisco and South San Francisco, a second route between San Francisco and Berkeley/Albany, and enhanced service on the existing routes from San Francisco to Alameda/Oakland and to Vallejo. It also included $12 million in capital costs earmarked for two 149-passenger vessels to serve a Berkeley/Albany route. However, plans for the Berkeley/Albany route must be in place by 2010 or the money will be used for ferry service elsewhere within the northern East Bay. An additional $10 million for a new terminal will need to be obtained from other sources.
The model for Berkeley/Albany service in the WTA plan includes trips every 30 minutes during peak hours, taking 28 minutes from terminal to terminal. Fares are estimated to be approximately $3.50 each way, plus parking fees. The model assumes a $4 subsidy for each rider. Under legislative directive, AC Transit will have the first option on operating the new service.
Meetings have already been held by WTA and the cities of Berkeley and Albany to discuss potential sites for the Berkeley terminal. Three locations under consideration are at the Berkeley Marina, the foot of Gilman Street in Berkeley, and the foot of Buchanan Street in Albany. Only the Berkeley Marina, which was previously used for a ferry, has sufficient deep-water access; the other two sites would require dredging. There are traffic concerns with all three sites.
These issues will be discussed in a scoping session planned for Summer 2005, with a draft environmental impact report available a year later.
Two other East Bay cities are also eager to start ferry service. In Richmond, a small but loyal group of ferry riders that was disappointed when ferries proved unsuccessful a few years ago is hoping for another chance to make ferries work. Hercules is including a ferry terminal in its plans for a transit-oriented downtown. Regional Measure 2 set aside $1 million for planning for Richmond ferries, and Contra Costa's Measure J sales tax measure, which was approved by voters in November, provides $45 million for Contra Costa County ferries.
Soon, instead of having to pay the increase in bridge tolls because of Regional Measure 2, some drivers may benefit from them by skipping the congested bridges and riding new ferries across the Bay.
Leslie Stewart
For more information:
Heidi Machen, WTA, 415-291-3377 x3189, machen@watertransit.org
Updates on EIRs, etc: http://www.watertransit.org