In view of the Bay Area’s vulnerability to natural disasters such as earthquakes, as well as terrorist attacks, State Senator Don Perata of Oakland, and President pro Tempore of the California State Senate, is considering an additional role for the Bay Area’s regional ferry system — disaster recovery service.
By Wes Starratt, PE
Published: March, 2006
In view of the Bay Area’s vulnerability to natural disasters such as earthquakes, as well as terrorist attacks, State Senator Don Perata of Oakland, and President pro Tempore of the California State Senate, is considering an additional role for the Bay Area’s regional ferry system — disaster recovery service.
As a first step, the senator has officially requested the Bay Area Council make recommendations to give bay area ferries a primary role in disaster recovery. This would include the transportation of emergency supplies and equipment, as well as victims, as soon as a disaster strikes. Even while bridges, trains and roads may be out of service, in its disaster recovery role, the regional ferry system would have terminals ringing the bay: from Alviso and Moffett Field in the South Bay to Port Sonoma and Benicia in the North Bay.
In response to the senator’s request, the Bay Area Council has formed a Blue Ribbon Task Force of experts to make recommendations by Apr. 15. The Task Force will assess the needs for an expanded regional ferry system including the vessels, routes, and terminals, as well as the necessary legislation and funding.
The Task Force will be co-chaired by Ron Cowan, chief executive officer of Doric Development (one of those who first conceived of a regional ferry system). The other co-chair will be Bruce Spaulding, vice chancellor of University of California at San Francisco.
It was eight years ago that a bill authored by Senator Perata created the Water Transit Authority to establish a regional ferry system. That program has now moved from the design to the implementation stage, with new ferry systems being developed to serve to South San Francisco and Berkeley, as well as Richmond, Hercules, and other bay area communities. But, according to Wunderman of the Bay Area Council, the Water Transit Authority has been given neither the funds, the authority, nor the mandate to establish the full regional system now being contemplated. So, It is time to correct that deficiency.
Steve Castleberry, the executive director of WTA, responded, We appreciate the Bay Area Council’s support of WTA’s efforts to prepare for disaster response, and look forward to working with the Blue Ribbon Task Force.
Bay Area Council’s
Blue Ribbon Task Force
The Bay Area Council’s Blue Ribbon Task Force will assess the needs for an expanded regional ferry system and make recommendations for the system in a disaster recovery role.
Co-chairs:
Ron Cowan, CEO, Doric Development
Bruce Spaulding, Vice Chancellor, UCSF
Members:
Jerry Bridges, Executive Director, Port of Oakland
Carney Campion, General Manager (retired), Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District
Russell Hancock, President & CEO, Silicon Valley Network
John Martin, Director, San Francisco International Airport
Jim Wunderman, President & CEO, Bay Area Council
Supported by:
Michael Cunningham, Vice President of Transportation, Bay Area Council
Zane Gresham, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP
