Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) begins South San Francisco Ferry Terminal Construction

Construction on the South San Francisco Ferry Terminal begins at Oyster Point Marina with an official groundbreaking ceremony. At 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2009 civic leaders will kick-off the start of construction of the $26 million ferry terminal. Ferry service is scheduled to launch in 2011. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, along with South San Francisco Mayor Karyl Matsumoto and WETA Board Chair Charlene Haught Johnson will turn over the first spade of dirt commencing the start of construction. The project will provide one hundred seventy (170) construction-related jobs & over twenty (20) new full-time maritime operations and supervisory jobs.

The South San Francisco ferry service is a part of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) Transition Plan, adopted in 2009, which sets forth a five-year plan for consolidating and expanding ferry service in the Bay Area. The new ferry service between Oyster Point and the East Bay will provide an alternative transit option for people commuting to jobs in South San Francisco.

"The WETA is elated to deliver on our plan to expand ferry service. With a daytime population of over 100,000, South San Francisco is a dynamic, growing destination well-suited to ferry service,” commented WETA Board Chair Charlene Haught Johnson. “This is a testament to the community and regional civic leadership who were persistent and consistent advocates for brining ferry service to South San Francisco," added Ms. Haught Johnson.

“This project is moving forward today as the result of the combined efforts of a multitude of local, regional, state and federal governmental agencies and representatives, labor organizations and local businesses in the South San Francisco area,” stressed Nina Rannells, the WETA’s Executive Director. The project has enjoyed a long history of support, first from Congressman Tom Lantos and more recently from Congresswoman Speier who along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congresswoman Barbara Lee helped secure the final $3 million in federal funds needed to build the new terminal. Other funding sources include Regional Measure 2 bridge tolls, San Mateo County Measure A sales tax and State Proposition 1B funds.

Others who played key roles include: South San Francisco Mayor Matsumoto, South San Francisco Council members, and staff, San Mateo County Transportation Authority board members and staff, the San Mateo County Harbor District, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, CalEMA, the California State Department of Boating and Waterways, the Federal Transit Administration, San Mateo County Transit Advocates as well as representatives from the San Mateo County Building Trades, MMP, IBU, and local employers.

The WETA is charged with consolidating City of Alameda and City of Vallejo ferry services, and providing new regional service including new ferry service in South San Francisco. The WETA also has expanded responsibility for coordinating emergency response activities for public waterborne transit services. For further information regarding the proposed ferry project go to www.watertransit.org or contact Leamon Abrams at the WETA (abrams@watertransit.org or 415-364-3191).