Rising Tide for Expanding Regional Ferry Service

There’s a rising tide for efforts to expand regional water transit service, which is among the Bay Area Council’s leading policy priorities. The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transit Authority (WETA) this week (April 14) announced a $4 million grant from the Federal Transportation Authority to expand its downtown San Francisco ferry terminal. The expansion project, which is scheduled to begin construction in summer 2017, includes construction of up to three new ferry gates and vessel berthing facilities to support new ferry services from San Francisco to Richmond and Treasure Island, as well other potential locations currently under study, both in the East and South Bay.

The project will improve landside conditions at the ferry terminal by providing new amenities, such as weather-protected canopies, the construction of a new plaza area south of the Ferry Building, the extension of pedestrian promenade areas, and other public access improvements. The expansion will also enable WETA to stage emergency water transit services in the event of a regional transportation disruption or disaster, part of its state charter.

See WETA’s SF ferry terminal expansion plans>>

“This grant is due to the great leadership we received from 13 members of Congress, including Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Mark DeSaulnier,” said Nina Rannells, executive director of WETA. “We thank each of them for their support, and for helping WETA realize our strategic, long-term goal of bringing additional ferry service to the Bay Area, while executing on our emergency response commitments.”

To engage in our water transit policy work, please contact Policy Manager Emily Loper.