NEW OPTION FOR ALAMEDA SEAPLANE RIDERS ARRIVES AUGUST 9
As you prepare to return to work, school, and even recreation, Bay Area transit is moving forward together. In fact, WETA and AC Transit wish to welcome all aboard to the new pilot Line 78, which connects riders to the all-new Alameda Seaplane ferry. 
 
Line 78 starts rolling Monday, August 9, with timed connections to ferry arrivals and departures.
 
Line 78 starts at Fruitvale BART and operates along Santa Clara Avenue and Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway (RAMP), making it a great option to get to and from the ferry for commuters who live near the Santa Clara, Webster, and RAMP corridors. See the Line 78 schedule and map on AC Transit’s website.
 
For passengers who use Clipper and take both Line 78 and the Alameda Seaplane ferry, the bus ride will essentially be free thanks to a transfer discount equal to the local bus fare applied to the second leg of the trip. With San Francisco Bay Ferry’s new lower fares that means that getting from the East End of Alameda to Downtown San Francisco by bus and boat will cost just $4.50. Seniors, youths, disabled passengers, and qualifying low-income riders can make the trip for just $2.25 with the appropriate discount Clipper cards.
 
During the one-year pilot, Line 78 will be monitored by AC Transit; to better design and assess the needs of local riders.
 
Using the bus to get to the Vallejo and Richmond ferry routes is also easy and affordable.
 
For southern Solano County, SolTrans has increased service levels on its local and intercity routes beginning in August. Passengers who ride both SolTrans and San Francisco Bay Ferry will enjoy a transfer discount equal to the local bus fare. All of SolTrans’ local routes serve either the Vallejo Ferry Terminal or the Vallejo Transit Center, which is a 3-minute walk from the ferry. The Red Line connects Fairfield to the ferry. The Yellow Line connects Benicia to the ferry. See schedules and maps at soltrans.org.
 
For Napa commuters, Vine will resume express service between Napa and Vallejo Ferry Terminal on August 15. See the schedule and maps at vinetransit.com.
 
Richmond ferry riders can use AC Transit’s Line 74 to get to and from the terminal. See the schedule and map at ACTransit.org.
SOLVING TIDE DISRUPTIONS ON THE VALLEJO FERRY ROUTE
As Vallejo ferry passengers know, extreme low tides over the last three months have forced some temporary schedule adjustments on that route.
 
Why did this happen in 2021? And what is WETA doing about it?
 
The issue is that silt build-up in Mare Island Strait is accelerating. Previously, WETA was on a 4-year dredge cycle at the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. Over the years as silt built up more quickly, the dredge cycle shifted to once every three years. WETA last dredged in October 2018, and by April of this year staff noticed issues so serious that the schedule would need to be adjusted to avoid getting boats stuck in the lowest tides of May, June and July.
 
The good news is that WETA will dredge the terminal area in August. That type of underwater work is not permitted before August 1, which caused us to make additional use of the Mare Island Ferry Terminal during the low tide episodes. Our staff and its contractors have spent recent months getting everything in place to prevent future service disruptions.
 
Given accelerating silt build-up, WETA plans to move to a 2-year dredge cycle going forward and is exploring options for a future terminal redesign to further reduce the impacts of low tides on ferry service and extend the dredge cycle.
$5 MILLION FOR REDWOOD CITY TERMINAL

Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin, who represents San Mateo County, secured $5 million in funding for the proposed Redwood City Ferry Terminal during the state budget process. Signed by Governor Newsom on July 13, Senate Bill 129 provides $5 million to help cover construction costs for a second ferry terminal in San Mateo County.
 
WETA, the agency that provides San Francisco Bay Ferry, is currently working with its partners the City of Redwood City and the Port of Redwood City to develop a business plan for potential ferry service connecting the Peninsula to San Francisco and the East Bay via water transit. A feasibility study completed earlier this year found ferry service between Redwood City, Downtown S.F., Oakland and Alameda to be viable with high ridership expectations.
 
The business plan will address additional funding needs and opportunities among other issues. If planning, funding, permitting, and construction timelines remain on track and if the project is approved by all relevant agencies, Redwood City ferry service could begin in 2024.
FERRY TALES

Gretchen has many fond memories aboard the Richmond ferry, but her favorite is when her and her husband enjoyed a ride into San Francisco for a date night. “My husband and I had a quick date night where we took a 4 p.m. ferry to San Francisco, had dinner and caught the last ferry back home around 7 p.m. We were able to catch a beautiful sunset to boot!” According to Gretchen, the ferry is the best way to cross the bay because it’s a beautiful ride even when it’s raining or foggy.