WETA Solicits Public Input on Ferry Transition

Under new state legislation passed last year the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) was charged with consolidating City of Alameda and City of Vallejo ferry services and all planned public transportation ferries under WETA. WETA also has expanded responsibility for coordinating emergency response activities for public waterborne transit services. These responsibilities are to be carried out in accordance with a Transition Plan and an Emergency Water Transportation System Management Plan. WETA is required to create and adopt both plans by July 1, 2009 and to take public input prior to their adoption.

In order to best accommodate ferry riders, WETA public hearings and special Board meetings will be held in the evening in Alameda and Vallejo and at the lunch hour in San Francisco to solicit public input on both plans.

WETA public hearings & special board meetings:
Wed, April 15: 12:00p.m.
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
50 California Street, Suite 2600, San Francisco

Wed, April 15: 6:30p.m.
Vallejo City Hall
555 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo

Thursday, April 16: 7:30p.m.
Alameda City Hall
2263 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda

Drafts of both plans can be downloaded at www.watertransit.org.

The Transition Plan will guide the consolidation of the Vallejo, Alameda/Oakland and Harbor Bay ferries under WETA. The Golden Gate Ferry service will continue to be operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.  The Transition Plan also includes the following financially constrained elements:
•    A five-year Operating Plan describing existing services and planned service expansions including South San Francisco and Berkeley ferry service; and
•    A five-year Capital Improvement Program identifying all assets required to maintain, sustain and expand the system as planned.

The Emergency Water Transportation System Management Plan sets a framework for coordination and response and recovery efforts in the event of an emergency by using passenger ferries.  It provides a detailed definition of WETA’s roles and responsibilities for incident planning, response and recovery, and restoration of normal ferry operations. 

Comments will be accepted at the public hearings and until the close of business on Monday, May 18, 2009. Written comments should be sent to Plan Comments, WETA, Pier 9, Suite 111, The Embarcadero, and San Francisco, CA 94111.  The public is also invited to provide comment via e-mail to [email protected]

The hearings will be accessible to persons with disabilities. If special translation, signing services or other special accommodations are needed, please contact Shirley Douglas at (415) 364-3191 at least 48 hours before the meeting.