Getting Serious about Hovercraft

With ridership soaring on regional water transit, Bay Area Council CEO Jim Wunderman thinks it’s time to take a much closer look at adding hovercraft to the fleet. Wunderman, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Water Emergency Transportation Authority, recently submitted a letter asking the WETA board to conduct a formal study on the possible use of hovercraft. Hovercraft offer the potential to expand water transit to areas in Silicon Valley, the North Bay and elsewhere where shallow waters and environmental issues prevent larger ferry boats from traveling. Organized by Chief Operating Officer John Grubb, the Council last year led a delegation of business, government and water transit leaders to England where they toured a hovercraft manufacturing facility and rode on the levitating vessels. The WETA board will consider the request on Feb. 8.

Read the letter requesting a study of hovercraft>>

Hovercraft ferries could be coming to Silicon Valley for your commute (SF Gate)

Hovercraft on San Francisco Bay? Advocates say its time has come (Mercury News/East Bay Times)

Commuter hovercraft returns (San Mateo Daily Journal)