As Ferry Ridership Grows, a New Vessel Commissioned

There’s more good news in the push to accelerate the expansion of regional ferry service. The Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) this month approved $13 million in funding to construct a new 300-passenger ferry that is scheduled to hit the water in 2020. The Council, whose CEO Jim Wunderman serves on the WETA board, has been a leading proponent of expanding regional ferry service to help ease grinding traffic on Bay Area roads and highways and take some pressure off other congested transit systems. The new ferry will be the eighth vessel added to the fleet since 2017. WETA has added three 400-passenger boats since April 2017 with four more scheduled to start producing wakes in 2019. The water transit agency is also preparing to open new service to Richmond in January 2019 and to the San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood and Alameda’s Seaplane Lagoon in the next few years.

The expansion comes as WETA experiences record ridership growth. The agency’s 20-year strategic plan calls for operating at 16 terminals with 44 vessels by 2035. Today, they operate at nine terminals with 14 vessels. The Council helped lead the campaign for Regional Measure 3, which will provide significant funding to enable WETA to meet its expansion plans. To engage in the Council’s transportation policy work, please contact Chief Operating Officer John Grubb.