The Proposed Ferry Route:

• Antioch/Pittsburg to Martinez to San Francisco

Trip Time(s):

• Antioch/Pittsburg (via Martinez) to San Francisco Ferry Building: 95 minutes

• Martinez to San Francisco Ferry Building: 60 minutes

The Benefits of an Antioch-Martinez/Pittsburg Ferry Service:

• Studies indicate a much greater affinity for water transit by people living in waterside communities, making Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch and Oakley viable water-transit markets.

• Combined ferry service will provide a convenient and direct link between Eastern Contra Costa County and the Bay Area, and will complement the proposed eBART service.

• This route will reduce traffic congestion by taking county workers traveling from Oakley/Antioch/Pittsburg to Martinez, the Contra Costa County seat, off of Hwy. 4.

• Ferry service will increase this region's economic vitality; Antioch is including ferry service in its General Plan update because of the benefits it will bring to redeveloping the city's historic downtown waterfront district.

The Riders:

• WTA's ridership forecasts identified 1,133 daily Martinez passenger trips and 800 Pittsburg/Antioch passenger trips to and from San Francisco by 2025. The majority will be drivers shifting from cars to water transit.

• Currently more than 22,500 people are employed by Antioch businesses, including Antioch Unified School District, Sutter Delta Medical Center and Kaiser. This number is expected to grow to nearly 32,000 by 2020.

• Antioch has 30,130 employed residents and 18,930 jobs. More than 60% (18,078) commute daily to jobs in neighboring Bay Area cities; of this number, 7% (1,265) commute to San Francisco and San Mateo counties. An additional 5% of Bay Area residents commute to Antioch for work.

The Terminals:

• Antioch and Martinez terminals can support growing waterfront business and residential communities by anchoring Water-Transit Oriented Development (WaTOD).

• These new terminals will contribute to downtown economic redevelopment and enhance each city's attraction as a recreational destination for Bay Area visitors.

• New plans for downtown residences, office buildings and restaurants are currently under development in the City of Antioch.

• New Martinez developments include a county recorder building, several downtown office buildings and new residential units.

Convenient Connections:

• Martinez, Antioch and Pittsburg potentially all offer good connections to Amtrak that would complement ongoing waterfront water transit-oriented development (WaTOD).

• WTA will work with County Connection and Tri-Delta Transit to provide feeder service to ferry terminals in Antioch and Martinez.

The Timeline:

• Timeline dependent on availability of funds, environmental impacts and local support and commitment.

The Emergency Response:

• Ferry terminals in Antioch and Martinez could provide emergency access to Contra Costa County if highway and bridge travel is disrupted.

• New and increased ferry service was used in 1989 to transport passengers and supplies after the Loma Prieta Earthquake damaged and blocked access to the Bay Bridge.

• In 23 years, ferries have been used six times in the Bay Area to replace damaged or disrupted transportation links.

Proposed Funding Sources

• Federal Ferryboat Discretionary Fund

• Transit Impact Fees

• Farebox Revenue

• State Infrastructure bonds subject to voter approval on November 7, 2006.

WETA Project background:

WETA was established by SB976, and replaces the WTA (Water Transit Authority). The intention of SB 976 is to improve the ability of ferries to respond in an emergency.

Next Steps:

Contact information: