Richmond Ferry Terminal
Richmond Ferry Terminal | |
|---|---|
 The Gemini docked at Richmond Ferry Terminal in March 2021 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Harbor Way South Richmond, California |
| Coordinates | 37°54′33″N 122°21′34″W / 37.90917°N 122.35944°W |
| Operated by | San Francisco Bay Ferry |
| Connections |  AC Transit route 74City of Richmond shuttle |
| Construction | |
| Parking | 362 spaces[1] |
| Bicycle facilities | 20 lockers |
| Accessible | Yes |
| History | |
| Opened | 1999 Reopened January 10, 2019[2] |
| Closed | c. 2000 |
| Passengers | |
| 14,000 a month[3] | |
| Location | |
 | |
Richmond Ferry Terminal (historically Ellis Landing) is a
History
The terminal is located at Ford Point on the
The location was originally called Ellis Landing, which was a shipping port since 1849. Schooners transported agricultural products from Contra Costa to San Francisco from that port, and brought back supplies for "mining districts up the river."[4]
Red and White fleet service
.jpg){kind=spacer}
The terminal hosted a commuter ferry service to the
The terminal had its own dedicated AC Transit feeder service from Point Richmond and downtown Richmond with route 374 also now discontinued.[6][7][8]
San Francisco Bay Ferry planning
In 2007 most of the
The impetus for the reinstated ferry service continued in 2008 when the powers behind planning the project determined that there needed to be 750 "rooftops" within a half mile of the terminal site to generate significant and sustainable ridership figures.
In 2012 WETA rebranded as the San Francisco Bay Ferry began operation of its first new ferry run, the South San Francisco Ferry and as such began exploring opportunities for additional new services was launched.[10] Planning meetings were held to reopen and remodel the terminal at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond's Marina Bay.[10] A public comment period found that there were concerns for walking distance between ferry and parking and also bicycle parking.[10] An environmental review was ordered to last up to nine months.[10] Funding was approved in 2015, with service then expected to begin in 2018.[11]
In April 2016, the San Francisco Ferry building secured a $4 million federal grant. The funds were used for construction of new berths beginning in 2017[12][1] Tideline started offering a private 35 minute US$11 one-way service to the San Francisco Ferry Building from a separate pier in the Marina Bay District in 2017, but discontinued it several years later.[13]
San Francisco Bay Ferry service
On January 10, 2019,[14] after delays, the San Francisco Bay Ferry launched its service from this terminal. The journey to the San Francisco Ferry Building takes approximately 35 minutes. The regular fare is $US 6.75 with free parking compared with BART trains from the nearby El Cerrito Plaza station for $7.50 plus an additional $4 for parking to downtown San Francisco. Passengers stated to the media that they felt "safer" using the ferry compared to BART. While mayor Tom Butt stated that he felt the new ferry system was positive with regards to development in the city.[15]
The service provides an alternative to what is dubbed as one of the "worst" commutes in the region (Interstate 80). The ferry service was initially project to carry an estimated 400 passengers daily increasing to a peak of up to 1,800 when fully developed. Weekend service is planned to support visitors to the adjacent
By June 2019, six months into the service it met its ridership goals six years early with 740 boardings a day with projected ridership of 480 that early on.[18]
Weekend service will begin in August 2019 according to mayor Butt.[19] The service will be on a three-month trial basis with regular fares and departure times as early as 9:30 am from Richmond and returning service as late as 8:20 pm from San Francisco with 5 trips each way spread out more or less evenly throughout the day.[20] The trial will begin August 3 and last through the first week of November.[21]
References
- ^ a b Cabanatuan, Michael (1 November 2017). "Richmond-to-San Francisco ferry service set to begin in September". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ "About Ferry Service Between Richmond and the San Francisco Ferry Building". Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ Richmond Ferry ridership exceeds first month expectations, Richmond Standard
- ^ ELLIS LANDING IN USE SINCE 1849, Oakland Tribune, April 12, 1914, retrieved April 14, 2020
- ^ West County Times, July 10, 2008, access date July 13, 2008
- Metropolitan Transportation Commission, September 1999, retrieved August 1, 2007
- ^ Richmond Ferry to Sail, San Francisco Chronicle, by Michael Cabanatuan, September 27, 1999, retrieved August 1, 2007
- ^ Richmond Ferry Wins Praise But Few Riders, San Francisco Chronicle by Benjamin Pimentel, October 6, 1999, retrieved August 1, 2007
- ^ Ferry Terminal Site Decision Nears; Richmond Bid Stalls, Berkeley Daily Planet, by Richard Brenneman, retrieved August 1, 2007
- ^ a b c d Officials showcase proposed Richmond commuter ferry, Spencer Whitley, Richmond Confidential, 22-06-2012, access date 03-07-2012
- ^ Goldberg, Ted (November 18, 2015). "Richmond Ferry Service to San Francisco Inches Closer to Reality". KQED. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- ^ Brinklow, Adam (April 18, 2016). "Ferry Snags Grant, To Add Treasure Island and Richmond Lines". Curbed SF. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
- ^ Joffee, Karina (November 15, 2016) "Commuter ferry service from Richmond launched" East Bay Times
- SF Gate
- ^ residents welcome new ferry service to San Francisco, Richmond Confidential
- San Jose Mercury News
- ^ Soon-to-open Richmond ferry terminal could revive shoreline, usher in gentrification, San Francisco Chronicle
- ^ New Richmond to SF ferry service nets ‘incredible’ ridership growth, San Francisco Examiner
- ^ Richmond mayor: Weekend ferry service should begin in August
- WETAwebsite
- SF Gate
External links
