New WTA Chief Tom Bertken Lets Us Know Where He’s Coming From – and Where’s He’s Taking Us
New WTA Chief Tom Bertken Lets Us Know Where He’s Coming From – and Where’s He’s Taking Us
Published: May, 2001
What made you want to run the WTA?
For most of my long professional career I have been involved in building transportation facilities here in the Bay Area to provide better mobility to the people living here. Although I was heading for retirement and "the good life" when this opportunity came up I had to change my plans. The opportunity to once again use my experience and knowledge of area in addressing the serious transportation issues was too enticing. And besides, my wife was concerned about having me around the house all day.
Plans for the WTA called for it to "design, build and operate….a comprehensive regional ferry system". Is that still the vision for the Authority?
Very much so. That’s what the law says and our job here as staff of the WTA is to serve the policymakers on the Authority Board as best we are able in carrying out the mandate of the Legislature. But beyond laying out an exciting vision for the WTA the Legislature also laid down some pretty detailed responsibilities relating to the implementation of that vision. For example, we’re specifically required to work with agencies like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in taking a hard look at ridership estimates, costs and environmental issues. We all hope the result of those studies will lead to a comprehensive regional ferry system for the Bay Area. But if they don’t we’ll very open about it and say so.
Environmental problems with ferries were much in the news last year. How seriously do you take the issues raised by groups like Bluewater Network?
I take them very seriously and so does the Authority Board. Indeed, the legislation establishing the WTA requires us to give special consideration to the very real environmental issues surrounding ferry service. I think there is reason for optimism on the issue and personally expect that environmentally responsible ferry service is very possible. But many complex issues have to be thoroughly studied and put to rigorous scientific tests; this has not been done yet so we simply do not know exactly what the problems are, let alone what the solutions should be. Yet there is no denying that emissions, wake damage and the potential harm to marine life are just some of the legitimate environmental questions that have to be examined. You can be sure that we will look at all them exhaustively. And we’ll do it arm in arm with the environmental community, industry, ferry riders and anyone else with a stake in the outcome.
Communities with powerful political constituencies like Redwood City on the Peninsula and Martinez/Benicia in the North Bay Delta area are vying to be first in line for new ferry service. How will you choose?
It’s not a matter of choosing. If our studies demonstrate that an expanded ferry service makes sense, then it will make sense for both the Peninsula and the North Bay/Delta region. And the rest of the Bay Area, for that matter.
Many public transportation advocates argue that ferries are not cost-effective when compared to options such as buses, BART or, for that matter, more in the way or cars and roads. Your thoughts?
These are valid questions, which, again, are to be the subject of WTA studies just getting underway. But I feel safe in saying even now that we can complement other public transit and create additional options for the traveling public. What the founders of the WTA envisioned was an integrated transportation system that so well served the Bay Area 50 years ago. Any such future ferry system will surely include other transit as a vital component. Ferries are only good for getting you across the Bay: once you touch shore you need another system to get you to your final destination. So I’m quite confident that other public transit advocates are quite quickly going to come to see us as the natural allies that we intend to be.
Existing operators, Golden Gate Ferry for example, were mighty jumpy about WTA being set up, fearful that it would encroach on their turf. How do you plan to work with the current operators, both public and private?
If they ever were, as you say, "jumpy", it was before my time because we enjoy an excellent working relationship with all the existing ferry operators, both public and private. Indeed, we see all of them as indispensable working partners.
The legislature allotted $12 million for studies; what happens after that? Will there still be a WTA two years from now?
I expect so, but that’s really for the Legislature to decide. Again, our job is not to make a case for our own bureaucratic existence but rather to put to an honest test the hypotheses that increased ferry service is a good deal for the people of the Bay Area. If the answer is "yes", I’m confident we’ll be entrusted with the funds needed to go forward. If the answer is "no", so be it.
The Bay Area’s traffic problems are approaching emergency status. Many people believe a regional system must replace the existing balkanized welter of 28 competing agencies if there is to be any realistic chance for improvement. Might WTA show the way?
That’s really not in our mandate. We have a specific, and very important, job to do. We’re going keep our noses in our business and do the best possible job we can do with what’s been laid before us. It’s enough, believe me.
