All arrivals and departures on San Francisco Bay Ferry's Alameda/Oakland/San Francisco route now occur at the new Gate G.
Alameda/Oakland ferries will now arrive and board from the new Gate G at the San Francisco Ferry Building. Currently the only access to Gate G is via a pedestrian bridge south of the AG Building next to the Ferry Building.
BC STAFF REPORT
Published: January, 2019
All arrivals and departures on San Francisco Bay Ferry’s Alameda/Oakland/San Francisco route now occur at the new Gate G. Gate G is south of Gate E and can only be accessed at this time via a pedestrian bridge that connects to the Embarcadero.
The Alameda/Oakland queue will run adjacent to the southern edge of the pedestrian bridge before turning to the south down the Embarcadero. Ferry passengers to Alameda/Oakland should give themselves enough time to get to Gate G. See the map on this page.
Harbor Bay ferry service will remain at Gate E until mid-January. Vallejo ferry service remains at Gate B.
Hornblower’s Alcatraz Cruises Renews Ferry Contract
The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Alcatraz Cruises to operate the Alcatraz passenger ferry service and associated commercial services under a new 15-year concession contract within Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).
“We are pleased to announce that Alcatraz Cruises is the new concessioner for the Alcatraz Island ferry,” said Laura Joss, Golden Gate National Recreation Area superintendent. “The National Park Service is excited to work with Alcatraz Cruises to establish a long-term Alcatraz visitor welcome area and embarkation point and continue ferry service for the 1.5 million annual island visitors.”
Since 2006, Alcatraz Cruises has operated the most recent ferry transportation contract at GGNRA. Its parent company, Hornblower Cruises & Events, has operated in the San Francisco Bay since 1980. Under a separate NPS concession contract, the company currently provides full-service passenger ferry operations at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island Museum of Immigration.
“Once again, we are thrilled to be selected by the National Park Service after an intense competitive bid process to provide safe and reliable ferry transportation to Alcatraz Island. We look forward to working closely with the NPS, GGNRA, Golden Gate Parks Conservancy and the Port of San Francisco to deliver amazing visitor experiences for Alcatraz visitors,” said Terry MacRae, CEO of Alcatraz Cruises.
The concessioner will operate ferry and associated services from Pier 31½, within the Port of San Francisco. GGNRA and the Port of San Francisco worked together for several years to identify a site for long-term ferry embarkation and Alcatraz Cruises will be the first operator to use the site under this long term agreement. The site is under a 30-year use agreement between GGNRA and the Port of San Francisco with two 10-year options for renewal.
Over the first five years of the contract, Alcatraz Cruises will invest approximately $30.1 million in Pier 31½ and associated waterside infrastructure. Alcatraz Cruises will provide a variety of services to the public, including passenger ferry service to Alcatraz and Angel Island, a new Park Cruise service, charter transportation, and food and beverage service on boats. The concessioner is authorized to provide souvenir photography and charter transportation to other national park locations as approved by NPS. The contract is effective May 9, 2019.
Ferry Accident Probe
The MS San Francisco, the Golden Gate ferry whose prow was damaged when it ran into a dock at the San Francisco Ferry Building on November 23, has been under repair at Bay Ship & Yacht in Alameda and should be back in service soon. Golden Gate spokeswoman Priya Clemens said a Coast Guard investigation into the crash, which slightly injured two passengers, may not be done until mid-January. Clemens declined to speculate about the cause of the accident, although she noted that drug and alcohol tests on crew members came back clean.
There has been speculation that an engine gear might have become stuck when the boat was docking. It’s worth noting that the San Francisco belongs to an older class of four Spaulding ferries operated by Golden Gate, which also has a fleet of more modern catamarans.
Recently, the San Francisco underwent significant modernization work to upgrade its pilot house, installing modern gear that included a computer joystick in place of its traditional wheel for steering. It isn’t known whether the new system might have been a factor in the accident.
Marin North-South Greenway Gets $10 Million
The Metropolitan Transportation Com-mission awarded $10.6 million in regional toll dollars this week to Marin County’s North-South Greenway project. The money will go to the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) for work on the northern segment of the bicycle and pedestrian pathway.
“This is such a critical project for Marin bicyclists and pedestrians,” said Damon Connolly, a Marin supervisor who sits on MTC’s board. “It makes the route safer for all users and improves access to Golden Gate ferries at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. It will do the same for Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit when the Larkspur train connection is completed next year.”
TAM proposes dividing the work on the northern segment into two phases. The first phase would cross Corte Madera Creek next to Highway 101, while the second would extend the path along Old Redwood Highway in Larkspur.
“The North-South Greenway has long been a top priority for MCBC,” said Jim Elias, executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition. “It’s the primary ‘active transportation’ artery through Marin and Sonoma Counties. Each time we close a gap in the greenway, we make it easier and safer for people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes, whether for transportation or recreation.”
The funds come from the 2004 voter-approved Regional Measure 2, which increased tolls on state bridges by $1 for transportation projects. In all, $19 million in toll dollars will go to the greenway project.
