Title
Update on Estuary Water Shuttle Program (Information)
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Transportation Commission
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since early 2022, the City of Alameda's (City's) transportation planning staff has been working with a partnership of private businesses and associations on both sides of the Oakland Estuary and the Water Emergency Transit Agency (WETA) (the "Partnership") to initiate a free public water shuttle service between Oakland and Alameda. Together, the Partnership developed a plan for a three month, 3 day a week summer 2023 program; and for a two year, 5 day a week, year round program to begin in spring 2024 and run through spring 2026. Both services would be operated by WETA.
On June 21, 2022, the City Council authorized an application for a grant for $1 million to fund 25% of the operating costs of a two-year pilot water shuttle to begin in March 2024. At the same time, the Council also approved a staff recommendation to allocate $150,000 in Measure BB funds to the two year pilot program.
On May 25, 2023, the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is expected to award the City the $1 million in requested grant funding. The Partnership has already committed to raising the additional $3 million local match, and will be responsible for this. Operating a five day a week free shuttle between Jack London Square in Oakland and the new dock at Bohol Circle Immigrant Park at the foot of Fifth Street in Alameda, with weekday lunchtime service to Marina Village, for two years will cost approximately $4 million.
Staff is now going to the City Council in June requesting that they allocate $150,000 in City funding for the two year pilot consistent with the June 2022 Council approval; and $22,000 towards the summer 2023 three month pilot program. In both cases, the balance of the funds needed for operations will be provided by the other partners.
BACKGROUND
Currently, there is no adequate, safe or convenient a...
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