Passengers Test-ride Water Transit Authority (WTA)’s

New Ferry Routes

Organized by the WTA, a series of free Saturday morning ferry rides were offered throughout the month of October, carrying passengers from each of the proposed San Mateo and Contra Costa County destinations for a few hours of shopping, sampling goodies, and sightseeing at the Farmers’ Market and gourmet specialty shops at the newly restored downtown San Francisco Ferry Building.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for people living in San Mateo and Contra Costa counties to have fun and learn more about ferries,” said WTA’s CEO Steve Castleberry. “It is our hope that today’s passengers will be tomorrow’s ferry advocates and supporters.”

San Mateo County Gets Onboard
On October 2nd, 9th, and 23rd, the WTA hosted a total of approximately 650 San Mateo County residents and East Bay to South Bay commuters on six free ferryboat rides to demonstrate future ferry service from San Mateo County.

According to Councilmember Joe Fernekes, South San Francisco has a nighttime population of 65,000 and a daytime population of 100,000. “We see anything that serves commuters and helps keep cars off the road as extremely beneficial—the more people that we can familiarize with ferry service the better,” he said. “Genentech especially is pushing hard for this service.”

New ferry service has already received a boost through the approval of Regional Measure 2 (RM 2) by Bay Area voters. This will help fund two new vessels for South San Francisco as well as providing $3 million in annual operating subsidy.

“Measure A, if it passes, will also go a long way in helping to provide the necessary funding to construct new terminals,” said South San Francisco Councilmember Pedro Gonzalez. This transit sales tax measure, under consideration by San Mateo County voters in November, will help make San Mateo ferry service a reality by allocating $30 million for San Mateo ferries over a period of 25 years.
Christine Leslie, vice president of Samceda, an organization supporting the business community on the Peninsula, said, “Traveling by ferry is not only a great way to commute, it also opens up new possibilities for our residents to experience the Bay. Everyone on the boat agreed that they couldn’t wait for ferry service to and from the Peninsula to begin.” According to Leslie, about one-third of all residents currently commute out of San Mateo county.

Thousands of Bay Area workers currently commute by car and Caltrain to their jobs in Redwood City. Water transit service offers a good transit alternative and could also help to transport East Bay residents to their jobs on the Peninsula.

“My partner and I have been trying to get to the farmers’ market for a long time,” said East Bay resident Susan Kennedy. “Signing up for this free ride seemed like the perfect solution. Plus, I’m also interested in exploring alternative commute options from the East Bay to South San Francisco.”

 

Commuters Hope for East Bay to South San Francisco Route
“I see a real need for an east-west ferry route because of the great demand from the biotech community and the housing crisis on the Peninsula,” said the Mayor of South San Francisco, Karyl Matsumoto. The WTA’s plan includes this service, and on October 2nd, they demonstrated it with a free ride for Genentech workers between Oakland and San Francisco. These Saturday morning ferry riders typically commute from East Bay homes in places like Fremont, Union City, and Walnut Creek.

Ferry service is predicted to support continued economic growth of South San Francisco, the Biotechnology Capital of the World, in addition to other South San Francisco companies like Hitachi, United Airlines, Toshiba, and UPS. The proposed Oyster Point terminal would also connect with the planned Bay Trail, allowing a direct biking and walking connection along the shoreline.

South San Francisco Harbor Master Robert Johnson said, “After the 1989 earthquake, we saw a definite need for expanded and more frequent ferry service. Now it also makes sense because of the biotech industry’s need to attract employees from other areas around the Bay.

“The enthusiasm that comes from trips like the one that brought Genentech folks from Jack London Square to San Francisco is helping to jump start expanded ferry service,” said WTA Board Member Marina V. Secchitano. “People are getting a positive experience and impression of riding the ferry. We’ve lost a lot of jobs in the Bay Area, but the traffic hasn’t gotten any better. If we were on the highway right now we’d be stuck in traffic. Out on the Bay, we’re surrounded by beautiful scenery.”
“I was impressed by the speed and the comfortable environment,” said Genentech scientist Stuart Lutzker, who commutes from Walnut Creek. “It’s a thrilling ride. If it was convenient, with a frequent schedule, good connections to other public transit, and good parking, I would definitely try riding the ferry a few times a week. It would be a nice way to break up the commute from the East Bay.”

During the Oakland/Jack London Square ferry ride for Genentech, merchants from Jack London Square donated raffle prizes, which included a $100 gift certificate from Kincaid’s, four movie passes to Signature Theatres, two $50 gift certificates to Yoshi’s (purchased and donated by Jack London Square Marketing), and a gift basket and gift certificate from Scott’s Seafood. Mr. Lutzker was one of the happy winners.

Contra Costa County Flocks to the Free Ferry Rides
Also on October 16th, the WTA hosted 145 reserved guests from Richmond and approximately 100 more from Hercules and West Contra Costa County on ferryboat rides across the Bay. The Harbor Bay Express II picked up policy-makers, transit advocates, planners, and others from the Richmond Marina, one of the possible new terminal locations along the Richmond shoreline. The WTA invited Hercules and other West Contra Costa residents to enjoy the regularly scheduled ferryboat ride from Larkspur onboard a Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transit District (GGBHTD) boat. The GGBHTD co-sponsored this ride.

 

Richmond
Richmond County Supervisor John Gioia said, “New ferry service will have a positive economic effect on West Contra Costa County by helping to spur land development and job creation along the Richmond shoreline.” Supervisor Gioia spearheaded an effort to get $45 million for West Contra Costa ferry service in sales tax Measure C, which will be on the November ballot.

Ferry service to and from Richmond could reduce traffic snarls on the Richmond Parkway, Interstates 80 and 580, as well as on the Richmond-San Rafael and Bay bridges.

Mr. Castleberry said, “With all of the

redevelopment along Richmond’s shoreline, it’s a natural location for ferry service.” With adequate funding from both Regional Measure 2, approved by the voters this past March, which raised state-owned bridge tolls by $1, providing $1 million for planning Richmond’s ferry, and, if it passes, Contra Costa sales tax Measure C, this route could be a reality by 2009.

Hercules
Hercules Councilmember Ed Balico dubbed the demonstration ride “wonderful” noting that “everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.” He said, “It’s my hope that service can begin in Hercules in the near future because we need good public transit alternatives that will help to alleviate traffic on I-80.”
Arne Simonsen, Councilmember for the City of Antioch, relaxed aboard the Larkspur boat, enjoyed a croissant, and took in the views. “Compared to buses or BART, ferries are more cost-effective and require less infrastructure,” he said. “Plus, with the new boats, there will be low to no emissions, so ferries will benefit the environment as well.”

Simonsen also envisions residents of Antioch and Martinez riding the ferry for recreational purposes to visit the Farmers’ Market, San Francisco, and Marin, in addition to their daily commute.