For our usual “Who’s” column we had planned to get to know Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, the new public affairs manager for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District (GGBHTD). However, along with everything else in the world, our plans have changed because of COVID-19.
We still plan to get to know Cosulich-Schwartz the person, but considering these crazy times, we’re going to focus on Cosulich-Schwartz the public affairs manager. As you could imagine, he’s quite busy these days, so we’re grateful he was able to sit down and answer some questions for us. As we relax, or work, in the comfort of our own homes, Cosulich-Schwartz and the team at the GGBHTD are still pretty busy.
Here’s a Q&A with Cosulich-Schwartz to provide you with some behind-the-scenes insight of how one of the nation’s most prominent transportation authorities has been handling this crisis. Keep in mind that GGBHTD’s responsibilities include managing transportation via ferry boats, buses and traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bay Crossings: How have the shelter-in-place orders affected ridership?
Cosulich-Schwartz: Golden Gate Transit ridership is down 91 percent, Golden Gate Ferry ridership is down 99 percent, and Golden Gate Bridge traffic is down 70 percent since the orders went into effect in mid-March. So the orders are having the desired effect and people are staying home, which we continue to encourage and applaud.
BC: So what does this mean for the services you provide?
PCS: Transit is considered an essential service under the orders, so we are maintaining transit operations, but reducing the frequency of service. Per the orders, most people should be staying at home and only taking transit for essential trips. Our mission at the district is to provide mobility to communities in the Golden Gate corridor by bridge, bus and ferry, and we remain committed to providing essential service to our communities during this crisis.
BC: What precautions are in effect to protect those who still need your essential services?
PCS: In order to keep our passengers safe during COVID-19 we are wiping down interior surfaces on our buses and ferries with disinfectant every day. This includes disinfecting handrails, armrests, grab bars, loops and handles, and fare boxes on all buses and ferries at least once per day, and deep cleaning our ferries twice per week. We have also instituted social distancing protocols to ensure the public and employees are able to maintain the mandated six feet of distance on our buses and ferries.
BC: With the decrease in demand, how exactly have your services changed?
PCS: In response to the shelter-in-place orders, we have made the following changes to our Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry service as of April 3:
- Weekend ferry service has been suspended until further notice.
- Weekday ferry service between Larkspur and San Francisco is operating under reduced schedules.
- Weekday ferry service between Tiburon/Sausalito and San Francisco is operating in triangle service under reduced schedules. (This means all ferry trips between Tiburon / Sausalito and San Francisco will stop at all three locations in both directions.)
- Weekday and weekend bus service is operating under reduced schedules.
For the latest schedule information, please visit goldengate.org.
BC: What about the bridge?
PCS: At the Golden Gate Bridge we are maintaining essential functions, such as bridge security and maintenance staff, and monitoring traffic closely. As I said, we have seen a 70 percent decrease in bridge traffic since the orders went into effect, but the good news is that the public is largely obeying the shelter-in-place orders, helping our communities stay healthy and safe during this crisis.
BC: How has this decrease in traffic affected managing the bridge?
PCS: We are no longer performing median barrier moves for the morning and evening commutes, and the bridge will remain in a 3:3 lane configuration throughout the day. Per the orders, public works projects are exempt from travel restrictions, so we will move the barrier into a 4:2 lane configuration overnight on weekdays to allow suicide deterrent system construction to continue. All electric tolling remains in effect at the Golden Gate Bridge during the orders.
BC: Certainly this must be impacting the district’s general fund.
PCS: This does pose some unique challenges for the region’s public transit and toll agencies, but we’re unique in that toll dollars are our single-largest subsidy for transit operations and bridge maintenance. We’re losing about $3 million in lost fares and tolls every week, representing about 85 percent of our fee-based revenue. We’re working hard to ensure we can continue essential transit operations and stand to see some relief, along with our sister Bay Area transit agencies, in the federal CARES stimulus package, but the future remains uncertain.
BC: So have things slowed down for you personally, or just the opposite?
PCS: We’re busier than ever as we monitor and evaluate our service and coordinate with our local, regional, state and federal partners on our response to COVID-19. Our staff are in daily communications with public health officials and are working tirelessly to ensure we’re able to provide essential transportation service while keeping the public and employees safe.
BC: Do you anticipate any long-term changes taking effect once all this is over?
PCS: It’s too early to tell what the long-term impacts will be on our services and for regional transportation in general. We’re in uncharted territory and things are changing on a daily basis, but we’re working hard to make sure we can continue to provide essential transit service and bridge maintenance. We certainly look forward to the day when we can welcome our customers back on our bridge, buses, and ferries. But for now—please stay home!
