Big Month for Regional Ferry Service

There was a lot of good news this past month for fans of regional ferry service. The Port of Redwood City this week (Feb. 14) endorsed the business case prepared by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) for launching new service connecting the Silicon Valley destination with San Francisco and the East Bay. The Bay Area Council, which was instrumental in creating WETA and helping develop plans to build a robust regional ferry system, is a strong supporter of the new Redwood City service. Council CEO Jim Wunderman chairs WETA. If all goes according to plan, the new Redwood City service could launch in the next three to four years.

Also this week (Feb. 18), WETA announced that it has received $3.4 million in federal funding to construct a second small electric vessel to operate between downtown San Francisco, Mission Bay, and Treasure Island. WETA was awarded $9 million from the California State Transportation Agency in 2020 to build the first all-electric passenger ferry, and the additional money will make it possible for San Francisco Bay Ferry to operate two vessels and provide electric charging infrastructure to support what will be the nation’s first high-speed, zero-emissions ferry service.

And earlier this month (Feb. 3), WETA presented its State of San Francisco Bay Ferry 2022 report highlighting the agency’s major accomplishments in 2021 (including nearly doubling ridership while providing increased service), the financial outlook for the next two fiscal years, and the challenges ahead in 2022. Download the report here>>