The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) is proposing expansion and improvements to the Downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal at the Ferry Building.
Above is an aerial image of the San Left: Francisco Ferry Building and the gates as they look today. The artist rendering on the right shows the proposed expansion project.
The objectives of this project include:
• Accommodate WETA’s projected increase in ferry ridership and related ferry arrivals and departures from the Downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal;
• Provide a viable alternative mode of transportation that accommodates projected increases in transbay trips, and help alleviates congestion over the Bay Bridge and through the BART Transbay Tube;
• Address WETA’s and the Port of San Francisco’s emergency response needs;
• Establish a circulation plan and improved signage that provides clear pedestrian routes for ferry to bus and ferry to rail transfers, as well as safe routes for bikes, emergency vehicles, and delivery trucks to enter, park and exit the area;
• Provide necessary landside improvements, such as designated weather-protected areas for waiting and queuing, ticket machines and fare collection equipment, improved lighting, and improved boarding and arrival/departure information to serve ferry patrons and to enhance the Ferry Building as the central point of embarkation for ferries on San Francisco Bay; and
• Enhance the area’s public access and open space with design features that create attractive, safe daytime and nighttime public spaces for both ferry patrons and other users of the Ferry Building area.
The planned improvements build on improvements that were completed by the Port of San Francisco in 2003. The first phase of this project, which would begin in 2014 and be completed by 2017, would consist of demolition of Pier ˝ and Pier 2, construction of three new ferry gates, installation of amenities such as weather-protected areas for queuing, improvements to pedestrian circulation, and filling of the lagoon for future use as a staging area for evacuees in the event of a major catastrophe. Full build-out of the proposed improvements is contingent on potential ridership demand at full build-out of the proposed Treasure Island redevelopment, expected to occur sometime between 2020 and 2030.
Environmental Review
As the federal and local lead agencies, respectively, the Federal Transit Administration and WETA are preparing a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act.
A Notice of Preparation and Notice of Intent have been prepared and are being circulated by the Port and FTA for the purpose of defining the scope and content of the EIS/EIR. A 45-day review period on these documents will be held from April 1 through May 16, 2011.
A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 26, at the Bayside Conference Rooms, Pier 1 at the Embarcadero. The purpose of the meeting is to present information regarding the environmental review process, alternatives considered, and opportunities for public comment on the scope of the environmental analysis to be conducted for this project. An Open House will begin at 5:30 p.m., with a formal presentation beginning at 6:15 p.m. A resource agency staff meeting (also open to the public) will take place on the same day and at the same location from 2 – 4 p.m.
If you are not able to attend the Scoping Meeting but would like to provide written comments for consideration in the EIS/EIR, please send to: Mike Gougherty, WETA Project Manager, San Francisco Bay Water Emergency Transportation Authority, Pier 9, Suite 111, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, 94111. Comments must be received by May 16 to be considered.
Once the draft environmental analysis is complete, the document will be circulated for public review and comment. Additional information about the proposed project—including the documents discussed in this article—is available on WETA’s website at www.watertransit.org.
