Special Events Ferry on the Chopping Block
Last October, WETA launched special ferry services to Pier 48½ for Golden State Warriors games at Chase Center. A recent WETA report has shown that while ridership for Warriors games has been strong, ridership for other events, like concerts, at Chase Center has been weak. Unless ridership increases, the special service for those events will be discontinued by July 2020. Special ferry services have also been offered from Alameda/Oakland during Giants Baseball games at Oracle Park since 2000. But during the 2018/2019 season in both Alameda and Vallejo, ridership saw significant decreases. Combined with a change in game times that affected the existing Alameda/Oakland service, staff is recommending to offer only return trips from Oracle Park to Alameda/Oakland. WETA Executive Director Nina Rannells suggested revisiting the schedule once the new Mission Bay Terminal is complete.
Tideline Marine Group Reaches Tentative Union Agreement
Private ferry charter company Tideline Marine Group’s request for an extension to its landing agreement was presented to WETA this month. According to Tideline Director of Business Development Danielle Weerth, a tentative agreement has been forged with Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific Regional Director Robert Estrada, who will recommend the agreement for workers to sign this month. Currently, fees charged for each landing total $28 and the new agreement will include a three percent increase at the beginning of the new fiscal year starting July 1, generating approximately $2,200 in landing fees per month.
Draft Fare Program Seeks to End Monthly Vallejo Ferry Passes
The new fiscal year 2020/21-2024/25 fare program proposed for implementation on July 1, 2020 includes a provision to eliminate the current Vallejo monthly pass system. Instead, riders will have the option for a 25 percent frequent rider fare discount through Clipper. According to a recent report, the average Vallejo ferry rider would have to take around 35 trips a month in order to benefit from the current monthly pass arrangement. The 25 percent fare discount through Clipper would apply regardless of the number of rides. This is just one facet of the plan’s larger effort to streamline transportation payment methods and maintain consistency in the discount fare programs.
New Bay Breeze Replacement Vessel Plans Move Forward
A contract has been awarded to Aurora Marine Design for construction management services on the MV Bay Breeze replacement project. The MV Bay Breeze ferry vessel is a 250-passenger mid-sized vessel that operates as part of WETA’s Central Bay fleet. WETA authorized the request of proposals for the replacement project’s construction as well, from three different groups based on various criteria set by staff, including understanding project objectives, technical and management approach, capabilities and experiences. The Bay Breeze has hit the required 25-year replacement age to qualify for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). The contract awarded to Aurora Marine Design will amount to $600,000 of the total fiscal year 2019/20 project capital budget of $18 million.
Ferry Building Plaza Grand Opening
On Friday, March 20 at 10 a.m., WETA and the Port of San Francisco will host the grand opening of the downtown San Francisco ferry terminal expansion at Embarcadero and Mission Street. This transformative project greatly expands ferry capacity in downtown S.F. and provides a beautiful new 17,000-square-foot granite public plaza on the waterfront.
