Progress in Bringing Ferry Service to Silicon Valley

Plans to bring ferry service to Redwood City are moving forward. The Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), which the Bay Area Council helped create and whose board is chaired by Council CEO Jim Wunderman, approved a feasibility study that clears the way to begin work on a business plan, service options and last-mile connection support. The Redwood City Council and the Port of Redwood City have also signed off on the study. The Council is an ardent champion of creating a regional ferry system that serves all corners of the Bay Area. The proposed Redwood City terminal would be the first to travel to Silicon Valley, with options to connect to San Francisco and/or Oakland.

The feasibility study projected that Redwood City ferry service would serve approximately 2,100 passengers per day at launch, with ridership projected to double by 2040. The estimated farebox recovery rate 10 years after launch could reach 76 percent, according to the study, which would make Redwood City ferry service one of the most efficient public transit services in the Bay Area. In addition, the service would lead to job creation during terminal construction and would increase long-term skilled labor demand in the local maritime industry.

San Francisco Bay Ferry rates among the best Bay Area transit agencies in terms of passenger satisfaction, and Redwood City ferry service, the study found, would provide substantial benefits for commuters using two of the most congested corridors in the region. To engage in the Council’s water transit policy work, please contact Senior Vice President Gwen Litvak.