Heather Murtagh /Daily Journal A jogger passes the area that will be home to the new ferry terminal at Oyster Point in South San Francisco. A ground breaking was held for the development yesterday.

Employees trying to get to work in the biotech area of South San Francisco in 2011 will have a new method of transportation — a ferry allowing access from Jack London Square to the terminal, at least that’s the plan.

Political officials joined together yesterday to celebrate the groundbreaking on a $50 million ferry terminal, including the boats, in South San Francisco. Slated to be open in late 2011, the terminal is estimated to result in 900 daily passenger trips, or 20,000 per month. Work to prepare the site for construction already began.

Mayor Karyl Matsumoto was pleased to see the project move forward after having significant challenges, particularly with funding.

Opening a terminal will give employees an alternative to driving to South San Francisco, easing road congestion while also lessening the city’s carbon footprint, she said. In addition, construction will mean new jobs immediately for local people. One-hundred-seventy construction-related and 20 full-time maritime operations and supervisory jobs are anticipated to be created by the ferry terminal, according to the Water Emergency Transportation Authority.

The project was financially on hold for some time, but was restarted when the final $3 million grant was secured from the U.S. Department of Transportation. U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, made the announcement in September noting securing it was a joint effort with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, D-Oakland which piggybacked on efforts of the late congressman Tom Lantos who secured nearly $10 million for the construction of vessels and the terminal.

Speier predicted, once open, the terminal will only grow in popularity much like the baby bullet trains.

“People will figure a latte on the ferry is better than being in bumper-to-bumper traffic,” she said.

Funding was secured from multiple locations including regional Measure 2 from a $1 bridge toll increase, San Mateo County Measure A revenue from sales tax and state Proposition 1B money for service.

Environmental studies, design work, construction and the boats are estimated to cost $50 million, said John Sindzinski, WETA planning and development manager.

Demolition has already began. Removal and disposal of 73 concrete piles and existing structures from the Oyster Point East Basin will begin the process, followed by the installation of new concrete guide posts. Dredging will begin by the end of the year. Although an open date cannot be set until after bids go out, Sindzinski estimated the terminal will be open in fall 2011.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.