A project establishing a new ferry terminal at the Port of Redwood City and service across the Bay was left of a regional transportation plan, raising concern from Supervisor David Canepa who believes the connectivity and infrastructure is worth prioritization.
David Canepa
A blueprint plan for Plan Bay Area 2050+ — a regional, long-term strategic plan that address housing, transportation and the environment — currently excludes the Redwood City Port Ferry Terminal and Service Project in its identified transportation project list.
The exclusion of this infrastructure project shows that it is not a priority, and may jeopardize the port from securing dollars from other funding sources, Canepa said.
The project was in the previous plan, Plan Bay Area 2050, which was adopted in 2021 and included a $472 million investment into the new ferry terminal and service to San Francisco and Oakland.
Canepa said its exclusion to this updated plan was an unfortunate surprise.
“The Redwood City Port and waterfront is a jewel and electric ferry service connecting the Peninsula to San Francisco and Oakland is a must if we want to see continued economic growth and opportunity along this vital corridor in Silicon Valley,” Canepa said in a press statement.
As the legislation chair for the Metropolitan Transportation Committee, Canepa is urging the MTC Planning Committee and Regional Network Management councilmembers to reconsider this slight at upcoming meetings, held Dec. 13 and Dec. 16, respectively. Plan Bay Area 2050+ is developed and ultimately approved by MTC staff and the Association of Bay Area Governments.
“Since I’ve been on MTC, my main focus is to make sure that San Mateo County is not left out or forgotten in these regional conversations,” Canepa said. “To me, this particular project is so important for the region’s connectivity.”
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A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission said the money just isn’t there.
Financial projections for Plan Bay Area 2050+ include $80 billion less for transportation investment than what was expected for previous plans, said John Goodwin, assistant director of Communications at MTC.
“Many a project that had been in the previous regional plan will not be included in Plan Bay Area 2050+,” Goodwin said. “The Redwood City ferry terminal and ferry service expansion did not perform as well as some completing projects in either performance analysis or in the equity assessment.”
A cost benefit analysis of the service, and the income levels of people to be served by the project, contributed to its exclusion from the plan.
Goodwin noted Plan Bay Area 2050+ does, however, include a $302 million investment for improvements to the Highway 101 interchange with Highway 84 and Seaport Boulevard.
Acknowledging the investment into a project for which local leaders have long advocated, Canepa maintained the alternative transportation provided from a robust ferry service — as well as its potential use in emergency scenarios — makes it just as necessary. He added that the ferry project should not be included at the expense of other projects.
“The SamTrans Dumbarton West Connector project and other San Mateo County projects must also remain in Plan Bay Area 2050+ and not be sacrificed in this political tug of war,” Canepa said.
The blueprint for Plan Bay Area 2050+ is still adjustable, but the budget will very likely not budge, Goodwin said.
The regional transportation project list is expected to be approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission at its Jan. 22 meeting. The transportation project list is just one aspect of the Plan Bay Area 2060+ which is expected to be released in the summer of 2025 with the final adoption in late 2025 or early 2026, Goodwin said.
Several environmental groups have already spoken out against this project.
Ferry Service between Redwood City and San Francisco makes no sense. It's in direct competition with the 101 Express Lanes, Caltrain Service and regional SamTrans routes. Of course it also has been sold as an "Equity" project for people living in the East Bay, but working in Redwood City and Menlo Park. But it is slower than the train, the bus, cars and carpools.
This project was started after Google and Facebook both tried private ferries and failed. They decided this is too expensive. So what do tech companies around here when they don't want to pay for transportation? They make the public help out, like the Express Lanes along 101 for example.
This is how David Canepa and others have sabotaged Public Transportation on the Peninsula for decades already. They also claim to have no money, but for this Redwood City council found funding probably taken away from other Public and Active Transportation projects like the San Mateo and the San Carlos bike/ped bridge.
This doesn’t make sense. After all, didn’t AOC predict the end of the world in another 7 years? And didn’t quite a few other folks predict the end of the world before 2050? It sounds like climate change isn’t real if David Canepa is setting the stage to float tax and fee increases for pet projects which won’t help the general public but will help pay ever increasing pensions and benefits.
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(2) comments
Several environmental groups have already spoken out against this project.
Ferry Service between Redwood City and San Francisco makes no sense. It's in direct competition with the 101 Express Lanes, Caltrain Service and regional SamTrans routes. Of course it also has been sold as an "Equity" project for people living in the East Bay, but working in Redwood City and Menlo Park. But it is slower than the train, the bus, cars and carpools.
This project was started after Google and Facebook both tried private ferries and failed. They decided this is too expensive. So what do tech companies around here when they don't want to pay for transportation? They make the public help out, like the Express Lanes along 101 for example.
This is how David Canepa and others have sabotaged Public Transportation on the Peninsula for decades already. They also claim to have no money, but for this Redwood City council found funding probably taken away from other Public and Active Transportation projects like the San Mateo and the San Carlos bike/ped bridge.
This doesn’t make sense. After all, didn’t AOC predict the end of the world in another 7 years? And didn’t quite a few other folks predict the end of the world before 2050? It sounds like climate change isn’t real if David Canepa is setting the stage to float tax and fee increases for pet projects which won’t help the general public but will help pay ever increasing pensions and benefits.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.