A Watershed Moment for Ferries in the San Francisco Bay Area

With BART showing its age and struggling to meet growing demand, water-borne vehicles a potential panacea for transit in the San Francisco Bay Area?

1 minute read

April 17, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Twenty public ferries serving eight cities shuttle thousands of people across the [San Francisco Bay] every day, but there used to be many more," according to an article by Bryan Goebel. The question posed by Goebel, then, is how the amount of ferry service offered around the Bay Area might be increased to meet historical levels of service, or, for that matter, contemporary demand.

Interestingly, the biggest blow to ferry service in the bay occurred when the Bay Bridge opened in 1936, which also included a train, known as the Key System, when it first opened. In 2016, Goebel reports, "the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay ferry systems carry more than 16,000 passengers each weekday," and overwhelmed transit and freeway systems in the region might provide the reason for improved ferry service.

Evidence of the growth of ferry service in the Bay Area includes two new ferry terminals expected to open by 2022, the new operations of private ferry companies, and a 20-year draft strategic plan created by planners at the Water Emergency Transportation Authority, according to Goebel.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 in KQED

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business