A New Commute Option for Antioch/Pittsburg/Martinez
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.
Read More About WETA
Next Steps:
The WETA is currently pursuing new federal, state and local funding
sources for the Plan. Any new terminal location will require a
site-specific Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Contact information:
San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Pier 9, Suite 111, San Francisco CA, 94111
415.291.3377 www.watertransit.org |