Exciting News for Expanding Ferry Service to Silicon Valley

The Bay Area Council is wading forward in its work to expand ferry service to the Peninsula and South Bay, where exploding job growth has led to severe congestion on highways and overwhelmed existing transit systems.  The Council’s Water Transit Committee met this week with the Port of Redwood City, which gave a thorough update on its plans to move forward with the development of a ferry terminal that will be designed to support both private service in the near term and public service in the long term.  The Water Emergency Transportation Authority’s (WETA) Strategic Plan identifies Redwood City as a preferred location for future expansion of the public ferry service, but the agency will need to secure sufficient operating funds to support the service.

The committee also heard a presentation from PROP SF, which will begin high speed private ferry service to Redwood City in January.  This route will serve commuters in both directions and enable them to avoid gridlock on Highway 101.  The Council was supportive in helping to secure the appropriate permits for PROP SF and Tideline Marine Group to begin regularly scheduled commuter service to new destinations around the bay.  PROP SF also announced at the meeting a new partnership with Chariot, the private bus service, which will provide first and last mile connections to and from terminals for commuters choosing the commute on the water. To engage in the Council’s water transit work, contact Policy Manager Emily Loper at eloper@bayareacouncil.org.