Passage for More Ferries Clears California
Legislature
Big Transit Funding Package Also Passes
Legislature
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Senator
Don Perata arrived at one solution for his constituents who
want more transportation options: SB 916 and 915 |
If Neil Armstrong were asked to
speak about the California Legislature’s recent passage of Senate
Bill (SB) 916 (D-Perata, Oakland), he might say that it will create
one small wave for ferries, one tsunami of funding for Bay Area
commuters. If signed by the governor, this bill will allow voters in
seven Bay Area counties to approve a $3 billion spending plan for
approximately 35 regional transit projects, including rail, bus,
BART, bike, ferry and Translink, by raising state-owned bridge tolls
by one dollar, from $2 to $3. A second bill, SB 915, gives the San
Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA) the green light to
develop seven new Bay Area ferry routes, expand existing ferry
routes, and build 31 new boats. Some new ferry services could start
running as early as 2007.
Expanding the Ferry System
"The WTA’s plan shows that
our region’s public transit service can be enhanced with
convenient, cost-effective ferry service. As the operators of this
expanded system, we are ready to start working with Bay Area
communities to build boats and new terminals," said the WTA’s
CEO, Thomas G. Bertken. The State of California created the WTA in
2000 to plan the expansion of water transit service through
extensive technical studies and public input.
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John
Dutra (D-Fremont), Assembly Transportation Committee Chair,
led the charge on SB 916 |
Charlene Haught Johnson, president
of the WTA’s Board of Directors added, "We couldn’t have
gotten this far without the invaluable input from ferry and other
transit operators and advocates, elected officials, government
agencies, business people, environmentalists, and many others who
helped us develop this plan. We are very grateful to these dedicated
souls who attended countless public meetings. Together, we designed
a ferry system to meet the unique needs of Bay Area commuters."
The WTA’s ten-year plan
recommends new ferry routes to Berkeley, Richmond, Treasure Island,
Antioch-Martinez, Hercules, South San Francisco and Redwood City,
and expansion of existing routes. These routes were chosen based on
ridership projections. The WTA will also study a route between the
East Bay and the Peninsula, Port Sonoma, and several future
locations including Hunter’s Point and Moffett Field.
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Assembly
member Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) co-sponsored both bills |
SB 915 will promote
environmentally-friendly public transit and sets new standards for
the nation’s ferry industry. The WTA will use boats with advanced
emissions controls that will result in air emissions 85 percent
cleaner than EPA’s 2007 standards for diesel engines. At least one
boat will run on biodiesel, a renewable fuel made from soybeans,
recycled grease, or animal fat. Looking to the future, the WTA
already has received a federal grant to design a zero-emission
fuel-cell ferry that would likely serve Treasure Island.
Bridge Toll Funding Aims to
Integrate Transit
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State
Senator Jackie Speier’s district includes South San
Francisco, due to get funding for new ferry service from SB
916 |
Senator Don Perata, the author of
both bills, said, "We have to recognize that we’re not
talking exclusively about ferries. This is an integrated expenditure
plan that as BART gets stronger, as AC Transit
can put more buses across the Bay and we can use HOV lanes to their
God-intended purposes, if we can make the ACE
trains stronger so the service coming into the southern part of the
Bay is enhanced, we are integrating the whole system, we are making
everything stronger. Without that kind of a broad coalition, this
isn’t going to work."
Among other vital Bay Area transit
projects, SB 916 would provide funding for part of the proposed
ferry system. Specifically, it includes funding for two out of the
seven new proposed ferry routes: Berkeley and South San Francisco,
plus two additional boats for Oakland/Alameda. Voters in seven Bay
Area counties will have a chance to approve the transit-spending
plan in March 2004 by a majority. The WTA will work with local
cities in pursuing federal and local funding for the services that
did not get funded in SB 916. Sources of additional funding include
local sales tax measures and the Federal Ferryboat Discretionary
Fund. Total ten-year cost of the full ferry system plan is $646
million.
San Francisco County
Transportation Authority Commission President and Board of
Supervisors member Chris Daly said, "This spending plan
jump-starts transit projects throughout the Bay Area and its passage
is very important for San Francisco. It will fund the Transbay
Terminal, MUNI Metro East/3rd Street corridor and expansion of the
MUNI historic streetcar in the Embarcadero as well as ferries. The
funds for water transit help continue the revitalization of the area
next to the Ferry Building by providing more docks and passenger
improvements. Ferries might also come in handy should the bridges or
BART tube be disabled due to earthquake or other unexpected
event."
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Assembly
members Loni Hancock (l) and Wilma Chan (r) championed ferry
service for their East Bay constituents |
Linda Perry, a member of Friends
of the Berkeley Ferry, has been advocating ferry service for
Berkeley for over 20 years. Upon learning about the passage of SB
916 and 915, Ms. Perry said, "We knew it had to happen because
ferries are such an obvious way to cross the SF Bay. This is
something to rally behind. People who’ve been yearning for water
transit in their community now have renewed hope."
Both
bills await the governor’s signature; he has until October 12 to
either sign the bill, veto it, or simply allow it to become law
without any action.