Redwood City public ferry service plans moving ahead

Christopher Dacumos, a management analyst for Redwood City, said the study will explore potential routes, ridership, schedules and estimate the cost of constructing the terminal and ongoing maintenance; while the analysis will look into the economic and social benefits of ferry service, plus how it might assist in emergencies, attract development and the extent to which it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The study will also explore potential public shuttles or bus lines to bring ferry commuters to their workplaces after they arrive in Redwood City, and private employer shuttles will likely operate out of the port as well.

“Ideally this will be seen as a mid-Peninsula hub and not so much just serving Redwood City, but also supporting Menlo Park, San Carlos and Palo Alto,” Dacumos said.

The news follows a study in 2011 that focused largely on the best location for the ferry terminal, which was determined to be on Westpoint Slough at the eastern end of Seaport Boulevard at the Port of Redwood City. That site, which is currently being used as an aggregate terminal, is still the favorite, but two other nearby locations that would add up to 10 minutes in travel time are in play as well.

Dacumos said most details are far from determined, but Redwood City’s service would likely be modeled after that of South San Francisco, and feature about two ferries in the morning commute and three in the evening that may travel from the East Bay to San Francisco to Redwood City and vice versa. The route will be officially determined by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority, which will operate the ferry service if it gets the green light.

An East Bay terminal is yet to be identified, but Dacumos said the San Francisco one will likely be at Pier 1, adding that the latest estimates in travel time from the East Bay to Redwood City and from San Francisco to Redwood City are both about 50 minutes.

Dacumos said some of the findings in the 2011 study are still relevant, for example, service on two catamaran vessels with room for 149 passengers could mean up to 1,950 daily passenger trips.

Officials are hoping to secure funding from Regional Measure 3, which was approved by voters in the June 5 election and promised $300 million for enhanced ferry service across the region. In addition to RM3 funds, Dacumos said there is another $15 million available for ferries that could come from the transportation authority, and the city and port would also contribute funding. He estimated the Redwood City terminal alone would cost at least $60 million and likely more.

Dacumos said if the project is determined to be viable in the feasibility study and is then approved by the Port Commission and City Council, an environmental impact report could begin in 2020. Typically it takes five to seven years after the feasibility study for ferry service to begin, he said.

“People are always asking when ferry service will be here,” said Don Snaman, the port’s interim executive director. “Anything that gets people out of their cars and out of traffic will be helpful.”

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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