The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) broke ground on its new Central Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility in September, naming it after well-known Alameda businessman, ferry advocate and Harbor Bay Isle developer Ron Cowan.
On September 15, WETA broke ground for the Ron Cowan Central Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility. In addition to its function as an operations and maintenance facility, it will include an Emergency Operations Center that will serve as a primary location for WETA to coordinate the provision of emergency transportation services in the event of a regional disaster or transportation disruption. Photo by Joel Williams
BC Staff Report
Published: October, 2016
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) broke ground on its new Central Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility in September, naming it after well-known Alameda businessman, ferry advocate and Harbor Bay Isle developer Ron Cowan.
The Ron Cowan Central Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility is a major step in WETA’s near- and long-term ferry expansion plans. It will serve as a consolidated maintenance base and operations control center for WETA’s Central Bay fleet, which serves Alameda/Oakland, Alameda Harbor Bay and South San Francisco, with future services to Richmond and Treasure Island. The $49.5 million investment is located near Pier 3 of the former Naval Air Station, now known as Alameda Point.
The WETA Board of Directors voted to name the new facility after Ron Cowan to acknowledge him for his role in creating a viable, sustainable and growing ferry system on San Francisco Bay. WETA Vice Chair Jim Wunderman said, “Ron saw the potential for bringing back ferries as critical elements in our transportation system. His dream—a comprehensive regional water transit system—will be reality, due in large part to his vision and dedication to the people of Alameda and commuters throughout the greater Bay Area. We are grateful to Ron for adding significantly to transbay capacity and for being a fierce advocate for our agency’s role in both transportation and emergency response.”
The new maintenance facility is an important milestone in WETA’s long-term vision of expansion of service. “Ridership on the Alameda/Oakland routes has increased by 77 percent since 2012,” said Nina Rannells, WETA’s executive director. “In our strategic plan we’ve set forward a vision for ferry service over the next 20 years that includes wait times of 15 minutes or less during peak commute hours. In order to ensure that our vessels operate at peak performance and meet the growing demand for ferry service, investments in new and existing infrastructure are critical.”
The facility will include a 70-foot-high, four-story building and working yard that will support light repair and maintenance work, spare parts storage, concession supply and administrative office space. WETA also will construct a diesel fuel facility with a total storage capacity of 45,000 gallons—enough to operate WETA’s Central Bay fleet for up to a week in the event of an emergency. Extending from the shoreline of the project site and into the Bay will be a marine facility with berthing slips for 12 ferry vessels. Each slip will be outfitted with equipment to deliver fuel and utility hookups to WETA vessels, while a limited number of slips will be specially outfitted to meet regular vessel maintenance needs such as engine oil changes and life raft servicing. The facility will employ union engineers as well as construction trades.
In addition to its function as an operations and maintenance facility, the RCF will include an emergency operations center that will serve as a primary location for WETA to coordinate the provision of emergency transportation services in the event of a regional disaster or transportation disruption. As part of its founding charter, WETA is directed to coordinate the ferry transportation response and provide emergency response capabilities that might be needed after events such as natural disasters, emergencies or major network disruptions in the Bay Area.
The Central Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility project also will provide a public benefit for Alameda residents and the Bay Area public. To make the surrounding areas more attractive and accessible, WETA will improve approximately one-half acre of land by expanding the San Francisco Bay Trail; constructing a shoreline viewing terrace; and installing parking for bikes, interpretive signage, improved landscaping and seating.
The groundbreaking was attended by more than 150 local officials, including former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Jr. and Alameda Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer. “The attendance demonstrates the need, interest and support for expanded ferry service,” Rannells said. “Other important milestones on the near-term horizon include the opening of the North Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility in Vallejo, the launch of Richmond ferry service and completion of the San Francisco Ferry Terminal expansion project.”
