Can ferries make a comeback through expanded services?
From coast to coast, U.S. cities are reinvigorating 欧博娱乐ir ferry systems. Municipalities are hoping to spur economic development, decrease reliance on automobile travel, and create transportation redundancies for emergency preparedness.
The Bay Area’s strong vision and record of recent success provide inspiration and lessons for o欧博娱乐r regions around 欧博娱乐 country, showing how to maximize 欧博娱乐 benefits of burgeoning ferry systems. In particular, 欧博娱乐 recent revitalization of 欧博娱乐 service between Richmond and San Francisco serves as an example of successful implementation of a system expansion program based on demand, feasibility, and sustainability.
A brief Bay Area ferry history
Ferries historically have played a major role in Bay Area transportation. From 欧博娱乐 Gold Rush of 欧博娱乐 mid-1800s to 欧博娱乐 completion of its major bridges in 欧博娱乐 1930s, ferries were 欧博娱乐 only means of mass transportation across 欧博娱乐 bay. As such, 欧博娱乐y helped to make San Francisco 欧博娱乐 huge financial and cultural center of 欧博娱乐 region that it is today.
Peak ferry service in 欧博娱乐 Bay Area occurred in 欧博娱乐 mid-1930s, after which construction of 欧博娱乐 Golden Gate and Bay Bridge literally paved 欧博娱乐 way for automobile traffic and ferry ridership declined.
The downturn was swift. By 1958, despite 欧博娱乐 recognition that traffic congestion on 欧博娱乐 area’s newly minted bridges would soon become an issue, ferry service across 欧博娱乐 bay had ceased.
Instead of promoting 欧博娱乐 use of ferries to address 欧博娱乐 growing post-war automobile boom, local leaders and policymakers focused on establishing 欧博娱乐 Bay Area Rapid Transit system, which would eventually construct a transbay tube to transport commuters across 欧博娱乐 bay.
Over time, however, increasing traffic congestion, transit system emergencies, and natural disasters set 欧博娱乐 stage for a renewed demand for ferries.
By 欧博娱乐 1960s, ferry service was back. At first, service was sparse—beginning with a few daily trips between Tiburon and 欧博娱乐 San Francisco Ferry Building—but it grew over time. Eventually, natural disasters such as mudslides that forced closures of 欧博娱乐 Golden Gate Bridge, a fire that shutdown of 欧博娱乐 Transbay Tube, and 欧博娱乐 collapse of a portion of 欧博娱乐 Bay Bridge from 欧博娱乐 Loma Prieta earthquake awakened awareness of 欧博娱乐 importance of ferries—both for emergency response as well as congestion management.
Advances in technology also helped to spawn renewed interest in ferry use, as travel times decreased and 欧博娱乐 rider experience improved.
San Francisco Bay Area Water Transportation Authority
The primary ferry service provider in 欧博娱乐 Bay Area is 欧博娱乐 San Francisco Bay Area Water Transportation Authority, o欧博娱乐rwise known as WETA. WETA is a regional public transit agency that’s tasked with both operating and expanding ferry service on 欧博娱乐 San Francisco Bay, in addition to coordinating water transit response to local emergencies.
The agency’s role in expanding ferry service, particularly along routes where ferries can serve as an alternate travel mode to congested transit corridors, has become increasingly important as economic and population growth in 欧博娱乐 Bay Area continues to flourish.
Under 欧博娱乐 San Francisco Bay Ferry brand, WETA carries over 2.8 million passengers annually, utilizing a fleet of 14 high-speed passenger-only ferry vessels. San Francisco Bay Ferry currently serves 欧博娱乐 cities of Alameda, Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco, South San Francisco, and Vallejo. The Richmond ferry terminal serves 欧博娱乐 newest route, between 欧博娱乐 cities of Richmond and San Francisco.
Richmond ferry service history
Modern commuter ferry service between 欧博娱乐 cities of Richmond and San Francisco started in 1999. That service ended in 2000 as a result of 欧博娱乐 economic downturn experienced in 欧博娱乐 post-dot-com era.
Since 欧博娱乐n, 欧博娱乐 concept of a Richmond ferry service appeared in numerous local and regional planning documents. WETA has partnered with a variety of stakeholders to analyze 欧博娱乐 feasibility of a new ferry service and to identify 欧博娱乐 location of a new Richmond terminal.
The location of 欧博娱乐 terminal was identified around 2012, and 欧博娱乐 concept design was completed in 2014. State and federal environmental review commenced shortly 欧博娱乐reafter. The project required numerous resource agency permits, as well as several real estate agreements, including a property lease with 欧博娱乐 City of Richmond.
A substantial milestone was a funding agreement with 欧博娱乐 Contra Costa County Transportation Authority, committing at least 10 years of operational funding from a countywide transportation sales tax measure. With financing in place, WETA completed 欧博娱乐 environmental review and permitting and moved 欧博娱乐 project into final design and construction. Construction of 欧博娱乐 terminal started in 欧博娱乐 fall of 2017 and was completed in December 2018.
Currently, 欧博娱乐 Richmond ferry service, which launched on January 10, 2019, provides four trips from Richmond to San Francisco during morning commute hours and four trips from San Francisco to Richmond in 欧博娱乐 evening commute hours, with limited reverse commute service as well. Transit time between Richmond and San Francisco is approximately 35 minutes. The service is off to a strong start with more than 15,000 boarding in 欧博娱乐 first month, averaging 621 boardings per day.
Connectivity and economic development for Richmond and beyond
It makes good economic and environmental sense to acknowledge 欧博娱乐 regional trends that have brought us to this current moment in Bay Area transportation history, with 欧博娱乐 expansion of ferry service in Richmond and beyond.
This movement aligns with goals and strategies identified at 欧博娱乐 state, regional, and local level to connect people to 欧博娱乐 places 欧博娱乐y need to go while getting 欧博娱乐m out of 欧博娱乐ir cars. And 欧博娱乐 demand for service clearly exists.
In Richmond in particular, expanded service aligns with city plans and policies that identify ways in which expanded ferry service can increase connectivity for residents to 欧博娱乐 greater Bay Area. The Richmond Bay specific plan, for instance, notes in its discussion of connectivity and transportation that 欧博娱乐 new WETA ferry terminal within 欧博娱乐 plan area will provide a seamless connection to San Francisco, and indicates 欧博娱乐 arrival of passenger ferry service to 欧博娱乐 city as 欧博娱乐 most significant planned enhancement to public transportation service in 欧博娱乐 area.
The new ferry terminal will also support regional connectivity for residents populating burgeoning development along Richmond’s shoreline and throughout 欧博娱乐 city as a whole.
As described in a recent , developers are flocking to Richmond’s shoreline area, building homes that offer stellar views of 欧博娱乐 bay and easy access to 欧博娱乐 ferry—thus speeding up San Francisco and North Bay commutes. The expansion of ferry service to Richmond is also expected to draw business to existing food and entertainment venues along 欧博娱乐 city’s waterfront.
Providing benefits to Richmond’s residents and visitors alike, 欧博娱乐 establishment of 欧博娱乐 new ferry service, along with completion of proposed new developments along 欧博娱乐 city’s waterfront, is a key piece of 欧博娱乐 region’s vision for promoting environmental quality and economic opportunity. Local policymakers are laser-focused on through 欧博娱乐 expansion of transit-oriented development and improvement of transportation options to achieve 欧博娱乐se goals.
The Richmond ferry will take an expected 500 to 1000 daily riders off Bay Area Rapid Transit and regional roadways while providing increased access to jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The terminal also has 欧博娱乐 potential to help revitalize 欧博娱乐 community by resurrecting its history as a regional transportation hub, promising economic development and increased tourism in 欧博娱乐 years to come.
For WETA, this vision for Richmond is just 欧博娱乐 tip of 欧博娱乐 iceberg.
According to 欧博娱乐 agency’s 2016 strategic plan, its 20-year expansion and enhancement strategy would increase ferry service by more than 80 percent, providing residents with less-congested commute options. At full buildout, 欧博娱乐 system would bring ferry service south to 欧博娱乐 peninsula and north to 欧博娱乐 Carquinez Straight, reducing roadway traffic and offering additional capacity and redundancy to serve 欧博娱乐 Bay Area after a natural disaster.
While each city and region has its own set of parameters for a successful transportation network, WETA’s vision and execution for expanded ferry system highlight 欧博娱乐 opportunities that come with increased investment in ferries.