Six months after it began, weekday ridership on the new Richmond ferry continues to grow, far outpacing expectations for its first year.
BY DAN ROSENHEIM
Published: August, 2019
Richmond Ferry Service Update: Six months after it began, weekday ridership on the new Richmond ferry continues to grow, far outpacing expectations for its first year. WETA Manager of Public Information Thomas Hall told the agency’s July board meeting that Richmond runs so far have averaged 705 passengers per day, far exceeding the projected 457 daily boardings for the first year. And the number continues to grow, averaging 825 passengers per day in June. WETA runs four peak commuter runs and two reverse runs in the morning and evening on the Richmond line. The most popular runs are 7:10 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. WETA will begin trial weekend runs on August 3 and continue the trial until November 3.
Martinez Eyes Pilot Ferry Program: Martinez is committed “to making ferry service a reality,” the city’s mayor, Rob Schroder, told WETA directors at their July board meeting. To that end, Schroder said, the city has met with representatives of private ferry services Tideline and Prop SF, as well as with the Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine executives developing the new Water-Go-Round hydrogen fuel cell ferry. Schroder said Martinez officials are working with six other Delta cities to develop water transit plans, adding that he hopes initially to develop a pilot project for ferry service between Antioch and Martinez, an area where vehicular road traffic is especially congested.
RM3—The Saga Continues: The two lawsuits challenging voter-approved Regional Measure 3 will be merged into one for purposes of pursuing an appeal, according to an attorney for the two plaintiffs. Both suits, one by the Howard Jarvis Association and another by East Bay businessman Randall Whitney, claim that a series of three $1 toll hikes approved by voters for Bay Area bridges last year are in fact illegal under Proposition 13. Specifically, the Jarvis Association claims the toll increases represent special taxes rather than a fee to enter state-owned property; the Whitney suit argues that RM3 is a special tax and not exempt from the two-thirds approval provisions mandated by Proposition 13. Both lawsuits have been dismissed by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman.
Jarvis attorney Tim Bittle has also taken on Randall Whitney as a client. Bittle said that once various technicalities have been navigated, he will file a motion to consolidate the two groups’ appeals so that he can file one opening appellate brief for both cases.
