After two years of technical study and public
outreach, the Water Transit Authority (WTA) announced completion
of its draft ten-year plan (Implementation and Operations Plan)
and Draft Environmental Impact Report for ferry expansion in San
Francisco Bay. The agency plans to hold eleven hearings to invite
public comment on these documents. (See inside front page for
details).
Senator Don Perata, author of the 1999
legislation creating the WTA commented, “The State of California
made a huge investment in studying how ferries can give Bay Area
commuters and recreational visitors more transit options. The
opportunity to build a water transit system for the region’s
future is exciting. I’m pleased by all the hard work, top
expertise and public participation that has gone into the WTA’s
plan.”
WHAT’S NEW?
NEW BOATS AND ROUTES
The WTA is recommending expanding existing ferry
routes as well as adding seven new routes, all with convenient
transit connections at each end of the trip. If approved and
funded, the new system is expected to deliver 25,000 daily trips,
tripling ferry ridership by year 2025 to 12 million annual
passengers. It would take exponentially more buses competing with
traffic on the state bridges to transport the same number of daily
passengers expected to be carried by 31 new boats. New service
could begin as early as 2008, three years after the WTA expects to
obtain funding.
Charlene Haught Johnson, President of the WTA’s
Board of Directors said, “This is a well-though plan and a
sensible transportation investment that will make a difference for
Bay Area residents. From our market studies, we know that people
will leave their cars to ride this ferry system.”
New boats will range in size from 149-passenger to 350-passenger
boats. Boats will be designed to allow passengers to board from
both the front as well as the side of the boat to speed passenger
loading and to allow maximum flexibility in case of emergencies.
The WTA is recommending more frequent schedules for boats, in both
peak and non-peak hours, so that passengers have greater
flexibility.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Using advanced equipment, the Bay Area’s new
fleet of boats will be ten times cleaner than the existing fleet
of ferries. These stringent emissions requirements will surpass
the national Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards
for marine engines in 2007 by 85%. The WTA will require this
standard from boat-builders and has also budgeted an extra $1
million per boat to pay for emissions reduction technology.
Zero Emissions Ferries
The WTA is moving towards “the electric future”
to eliminate the industry’s dependency on diesel fuel and its
pollutants.
Using $100,000 in grant money obtained from the
Federal Highway Administration, the WTA is designing the world’s
first zero-emission fuel cell powered boat scheduled for Treasure
Island service. With the help of the Bay Area Congressional
Delegation, the WTA is seeking more money to build this boat.
NEW CONNECTIONS, NEW TERMINALS
The WTA’s plan sets aside 25% of its operating
budget to cover the cost of bus and shuttle connections to and
from ferry terminals.
In designing terminals, the WTA prioritized
pedestrian and bicycle access to encourage walking and biking. The
Plan also seeks to promote sensible land use, resulting in Water
Transit Oriented Development.
Future terminals will be standardized for a more
familiar and predictable passenger experience. Shoreline access
will be enhances for both passengers and shoreline users. A
standard modular design has been developed to fit into the
features of specific locations and community aesthetics.
San Francisco’s Downtown Ferry Terminal, the major hub of the
proposed system will see a five-fold increase in passengers. The
WTA’s budget includes $18 million of proposed of improvements to
add docks and improve access.
NEW FUNDING
The cost of the proposed expansion is $665
million over ten years, with $428 million in capital costs. Annual
operating costs are estimated at $3 million in year one to $46
million in year 10.
“Ferries will cost less money per new transit rider than any
other current plan for relieving transbay congestion,” said the
WTA’s Chief Executive Officer, Tom Bertken.
The primary source of new funds is a proposed
toll increase to State owned bridges, which is being considered to
fund new transit expansion including BART and express buses. The
Legislature is expected to consider this proposal in 2003. Voters
would be asked to approve the increase in a 2004 regional
election.
The WTA is working with the Bay Area’s
Congressional Delegation to double the federal money available for
ferries. The WTA will also work with local communities in helping
identify other funding sources like dedicating a portion of sales
tax for transit, and securing contributions from developers.
