Water Transit Subcommittee Welcomes New Co-Chairs

The Bay Area Council Water Transit Subcommittee convened last week with three new co-chairs and a renewed sense of urgency in its mission to expand regional ferry service. Led by Co-Chairs Dana Aftab (Exelixis), Heather Salem (Genentech) and Rosanne Foust (SAMCEDA), the meeting was hosted at Coast Guard Island last week. Council CEO Jim Wunderman kicked off the discussion by calling for the Bay Area to become a global leader in water transit and a gold standard for goods and people movement.

Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) Executive Director Nina Rannells updated the committee on the steps being taken to expand and grow ferry service, including updates on capital investments, new, existing and proposed ferry landings, and how Regional Measure 3 funding will apply to services. Wunderman serves as vice chair of WETA. The committee received briefings from the Coast Guard—former Pacific Area Commander and Vice Admiral Jody Breckenridge is chair of WETA—on the role it plays serving the Bay Area, California and the United States West Coast, and how they work with water transit operators on the Bay and adjoining waterways. Finally, the subcommittee wrapped with a tour of a Coast Guard response vessel stationed at the island. For more information on Bay Area Council Water Transportation, please contact Senior Vice President Gwen Litvak.