Title
Review and Provide Comments on Ferry Terminal Access Issues and Potential Solutions
Body
Transportation Commission
July 30, 2014
Item 5B
Discussion
Review and Provide Comments on Ferry Terminal Access
Issues and Potential Solutions
Background
Beginning in Spring 2013, both the Alameda Main Street and Harbor Bay ferry terminals experienced a surge in ridership resulting in near- or over-capacity trips, full parking lots and limited space for bicycles (Exhibit 1). Following the early July 2013 BART strike, all Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) services saw an increase in ridership. The closure of the Bay Bridge over an extended Labor Day weekend reinforced this trend, exposing commuters who regularly take BART, Transbay buses, carpool or drive to the ferries. Other factors contributed to the ridership surge. The America's Cup events increased in frequency and brought people to the San Francisco waterfront. Bicycle commuting has become more popular, and the ferry is seen as a superior way to transport bikes.
While all terminals experienced ridership increases over last year, the most significant growth has occurred at the Alameda terminals. In June 2013, boardings on the Alameda/Oakland service averaged 2,190 for an average weekday. In June 2014, boardings averaged 2,765, which is almost 600 additional boardings on an average weekday. The Harbor Bay service average daily boardings grew from 876 to 975 in the year between June 2013 and June 2014, which is almost 100 additional boardings on an average weekday. The increases in ridership have occurred on a select group of departures, causing crowding and even stranding passengers due to boarding limits on vessels. In response to these capacity concerns, WETA staff has made modifications in vessel deployment, increased ferry service and is in the process of developing more short- and long-term solutions.
Discussion
The following discussion outlines in grea...
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