Fresh funding advances SF Bay ferries closer to electric-powered future

Reporting from FERRY PLAZA

The Federal Transit Administration announced Thursday in San Francisco the award of two grants to Bay Area ferry passenger operators.

First, the FTA awarded the Water Emergency Transportation Authority, which operates the San Francisco Bay Ferry, with a $15.9 million grant to make electrification upgrades to four ferry floats — Alameda Seaplane, Downtown San Francisco and Main Street Alameda ferry terminals, according to WETA.

FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said at a press conference on the Ferry Plaza:

“This will greatly advance the San Francisco Bay Ferry’s efforts to transition to zero emission-free service by increasing charging capacity, setting the stage for clean green American vessels of the future.”

Monique Moyer, the WETA board’s vice chair, said the grant will help enable them to bring forward high-speed electrified vessels as part of an effort to bring zero-emission ferry service to the Bay Area. Moyer said that construction of the downtown ferry float will begin next year.

WETA is working with Elliott Bay Design Group which is the design and construction management firm for the battery electric vessels that will carry 300 passengers. WETA Executive Director Seamus Murphy said they plan to award a contract to start building the three emission-free ferries in the city, adding:

“What we’re doing here and we’re extremely proud to be doing it is what needs to happen in this country to be able to catch up with zero emission maritime technology.”

Additionally, the FTA announced that the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District that operates the Golden Gate Ferry, received a $6 million grant to replace the old Sausalito Ferry Landing, which Hernandez noted dated back to 1970, adding:

“This new landing will improve safety for the more than 8,000 daily riders and make it more accessible so all travelers can benefit from this.”

Denis Mulligan, general manager for the district, the piers and gangways of the Sausalito Ferry Landing “have long exceeded their useful life.”

Mulligan added:

“This grant will allow us the opportunity to make our Sausalito terminal more accessible for people with disabilities, pedestrians and people with bicycles.”

During this round of grant awards, the FTA funded 13 projects in eight states, totaling $202.2 million.