BY CHRISTINE E. CORDI Published: April, 2000 The cry of a gull, the slap of a baby whale’s tail on the bay water, the sight of otters frolicking, seals swimming, cormorans in perfect flight formation, and a bevy of heavy beaked pelicans. We visit their world each time our ferry crosses the bay. Our Richmond […]
Archive
Are Ferries Environmentally Friendly?
Published: March, 2000 There is good news and there is bad news for ferry advocates made anxious by charges that ferries damage the environment. The good news is that the environmentalist leading the charge against ferries now believes that “it’s possible that San Francisco will one day have the worlds biggest, and “greenest” ferry system, […]
Appointments made to Water Transit Authority
Published: March, 2000 Three appointments have been made to the San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority Board. They are: — Marina Secchitano, Regional Director of Inland Boatmen's Union of the Pacific (IBU). The IBU represents most of the crewpeople working San Francisco Bay ferryboats. Ms. Secchitano is also a founding member of the […]
Are Ferries Environmentally Friendly? Well, Maybe.
Published: March, 2000 There is good news and there is bad news for ferry advocates made anxious by charges that ferries damage the environment. The good news is that the environmentalist leading the charge against ferries now believes that “it’s possible that San Francisco will one day have the worlds biggest, and “greenest” ferry system, […]
Are Ferries Environmentally Friendly? Without a Doubt.
BY JIM SWEENEY Published: March, 2000 Last July, when expanded ferry service was being proposed by the Bay Area Council, Russell Long, Executive Director of Bluewater Network, issued the "Bay Area Transit Options Emission Report" on the internet. This Report raises speculative concerns that are backed up by an impressive array of data tables, bar […]
Ferries of the world
Published: March, 2000 It’s a relaxing and pleasurable cruise across Cook Strait and through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. The journey covers a distance of 52 nautical miles. The Interislander is 148 meters long and carries up to 975 passengers, 126 cars and 60 railcars at once. During the summer season, a fast ferry called the […]
History of the Ferryboatmen’s Union
BY BOBBY WINSTON Published: March, 2000 The Ferryboatmen’s Union of California came into being in November 1918. A new law called the Railway Labor Act encouraged unionization so as to increase wartime production, and founder Clyde Deal took full advantage of its provisions to quickly organize San Francisco Bay passenger and auto ferries as well […]
Riders of the Tides
BY CRISTINE E. CORDI Published: March, 2000 On the night of October 17, 1989 a ferry pulls away from the San Francisco Ferry Building. The ferry passengers float past an eerie, darkened city looking dead – save the hell fires of the Marina District. An image of destruction is seared into the memory of a […]
Governor Gray Davis proposes
Published: February, 2000 The $12 million is included as a line item in the Governor's proposed budget for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the 2000-2001 Fiscal Year. Provided it is approved by the State Legislature, this funding will enable the new Water Transit Authority to begin the detailed technical work necessary to complete […]
Friends of a Regional Ferry System a Success Story
Published: February, 2000 All 15,000 copies of the group’s first issue of Bay Crossings were snapped up in under a week. A companion web site, www.baycrossings.org, received thousands of visitors, many of whom became members by signing up online. Many calls and letters have also been received offering support, encouragement and articles for future issues. […]