What role do you see the Baylink Ferries playing in the Downtown Plan?

I think that they are critical to the whole downtown economic development, which has been enhanced in many ways by the ferries. They are such a statement of faith in the city. So, I can’t over estimate the significance of having the ferry service in Vallejo where it is.

There are people who have moved to Vallejo from the city; and commute daily by walking from their homes to the ferry. We want to encourage that type of commute, and will be building more homes in proximity to the ferry. We will also be getting rid of the parked commuter automobiles by the construction of a parking facility. It is anticipated that it will cost almost $30 million.

You will soon have a repowered back-up boat for the two operating ferries. How and when do you expect to add additional ferries?

We have already obtained the capital funding for the third new ferry, and I understand that it will be in place in about 18 months. But, before we have that boat, no doubt, we will be planning for the next one, depending on projected ridership figures. My feeling is that we should order these boats as soon as we perceive the need rather than wait until that need is on top of us.

What about operating and maintenance costs for these new ferries?

These costs are very significant. Funding maintenance and operating costs are not in place; so, we are expecting a very significant shortfall. Therefore, we are seeking funding from all of appropriate governmental levels. In addition, we are looking at entrepreneurial solutions.

Is advertising revenue one of those entrepreneurial solutions?

Yes, one of the entrepreneurial solutions to providing operating and maintenance funding for the ferries is selling advertising on the ferries. I don’t want to raise fares if we can obtain funding in other ways, and one of those ways is advertising. But that is problematic, because, for external advertising on the boats, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has presumed to pass a resolution that would attempt to curtail the ability of another city to do what it wishes with respect to its own ferries and its own operations. I don’t know that that’s legal, and we will begin negotiations with the City of San Francisco to resolve that. But if we can’t resolve that in negotiations, we may have to resolve it in the courts, because there are serious issues of First Amendment of Freedom of Speech. There is also the sovereignty of the City of Vallejo in terms of taking care of the needs of our citizens.

What is your vision of Vallejo as a transportation hub in the North Bay?

I think that we already are the North Bay’s transportation hub! We bring in people from all over the county. Much of the ridership on the ferries is from out of the city. We have feeder buses from Vacaville and Fairfield, but most of the ferry commuters come by car, as you can see from the many cars parked along the waterfront.

What about Benicia and Martinez?

We also have feeder bus service to Benicia, and the distance from Benicia to Vallejo can be driven by in about 15 minutes. By boat, it would take considerable longer. For Martinez, I don’t know what the timing would be.

Is Vallejo prepared to be a part of a unified regional ferry network being established by the Water Transit Authority?

Depending on our ability to maintain a level of funding necessary to operate and expand our services, the answer is ‘yes’. I don’t see any problem at all with being part of a regional network of ferry services.

Finally, would the Baylink ferry consider the Pacific Refining dock in Rodeo as a stop for picking-up or leaving passengers?

One of the things that has to be kept in mind is that people get on the boat expecting to get to work in a reasonable period of time. If you start adding stops along the way, you cut down significantly on your ability to get people to work on time; so, I don’t think that Palm Belchamber would be very happy to contemplate a stop in Rodeo on the way to San Francisco.