Ferry agency adopts equity and connectivity principles
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority, or WETA - the transit agency that manages many of the Bay Area passenger ferries - has adopted a set of equity and connectivity principles to guide its efforts to recover from the impacts of the Covid pandemic.
The staff report for WETA’s February board meeting observed that before Covid, WETA services had been positioned as a premium offering designed to appeal to commuters willing to pay a higher fare in exchange for avoiding traffic congestion on the Bay Bridge or crowded BART trains. However, these requirements also led to a ridership base with higher household income levels than many other transit systems in the Bay Area
During the pandemic, ferry routes that continued to operate, including Vallejo, carried largely lower income essential workers. To bring riders back to the service, WETA is creating a “Pandemic Recovery Program designed to stimulate ridership and broaden the appeal of the ferry to a larger cross section of Bay Area commuters.”
The principles include:
Enhancing equity and access to ferry service for Bay Area residents, including expanding access for transit-dependent riders
Phasing in increased service levels and competitive fares to incentivize demand and support the region’s economic recovery
Set fares to be competitive with comparable regional transit options.
Pursuing coordinated fare strategies and better connectivity with other Bay Area transit operators
Pursue options for enhancing service outside of traditional peak periods in recognition that off-peak service can make the system more relevant for riders whose travel is outside traditional office work schedules.
At its upcoming board meeting on March 4 at 1:30pm, the board will review a draft service plan and fare program to put these principles into practice.
Are you interested in more affordable and accessible ferry service? Click here to sign up to give public comment at the WETA board meeting in March.
