City and Business Leaders Join to Link
Redwood City to the East Bay
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| The Port of Redwood City: the only
deep-water port in the South Bay, importing building materials
from as far away as China and exporting scrap steel throughout
the Pacific Basin. |
On January 10, Redwood City/ San Mateo Chambers of
Commerce invited the Water Transit Authority to update them on plans for
new ferry service in the Bay. Exceeding expected turnout, the event
attracted approximately 40-50 attendees excited enough by the subject to
arrive early for the 8:00 a.m. meeting. One of the opening speakers,
Diane Howard, Redwood City Council member and Chair of the WTA’s
Community Advisory Committee, said that no one doubts the value of a
ferry transit system, particularly after the events of September 11.
Originally from New York, she personally witnessed ferries at their best
when visiting the city soon after the terrorist attack. Reflecting upon
her experience, she said, “I am more motivated than ever and glad
there is a region-wide authority [the WTA] to focus on the issue.”
The WTA’s CEO, Thomas G. Bertken complimented the
knowledgeable and motivated crowd, saying, “The success of a future
ferry service depends on a partnership with local government, such as
Redwood City.” He expressed delight in the investment the Port has
already made. For instance, last year, the Port of Redwood City
commissioned a Ferry Terminal Analysis, prepared by Pacific Transit
Management Corp. with assistance by URS/Dames & Moore. This analysis
concluded that, “A start-up ferry service to San Francisco should
generate 500 to 700 passenger trips daily, while a mature route network
with frequent San Francisco and East Bay service is expected to
ultimately generate 2,000 to 2,500 daily ferry trips to and from Redwood
City.”
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| The Port of Redwood City developed
from the local redwood lumber industry, stimulated by a growing
market in the booming “barbary coast” up the peninsula, and
the 1851 discovery of a channel that ran inland from the bay. |
Redwood Shores developer Don Warren opened the
discussion on the symbiotic relationship between land-use and transit.
As Redwood City’s Community Development Services Director, Bruce
Liedstrand illustrated, Redwood City is seeking solutions to duel big
city problems: scarce housing coupled with traffic congestion. His
presentation alluded to the root of the problem: that the housing crunch
often dictates that people live far away from where they work. In
reference to the need for the WTA’s plan to expand ferry service, he
said, “The system of getting everywhere in a car used to work. It’s
not broken, but, we’ve got to find other ways of getting around and
give people choices.”
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