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What is the Proposed Redwood City Ferry Terminal Project?

The Redwood City Ferry Terminal Project (Project) envisions ferry service to the mid-peninsula with Redwood City as the southernmost hub for the San Francisco Bay Ferry system. This potential service would provide a commute alternative connecting the mid-peninsula to San Francisco and Oakland in the East Bay.  The potential terminal would be constructed within the Port of Redwood City at the end of Seaport Boulevard.  Waterside improvements would include a passenger float, piles, fixed pier and gangway. Landside improvements would include a parking lot, bus and shuttle drop-off facilities, bike storage, restrooms, and public access amenities such as trails, benches, picnic tables, etc. Ferry vessels serving the terminal would travel at speed up to 34 knots with a travel time of approximately one hour to San Francisco and the East Bay. 

San Francisco Bay Ferry – operated by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) -- could provide service between Redwood City and San Francisco or Oakland. Initial service would focus on weekday commutes.  As the service matures, midday, evening, weekend or special event service could be added.

Ferry service would provide a new transportation choice to get to and from Redwood City. Ferry travel is generally considered the most pleasant travel experience of all the travel modes and Redwood City ferry service has the potential to entice drivers out of their cars, reducing congestion on local streets as well as on the region’s highways. 

Why is it Needed?

The Redwood City’s General Plan established a balanced, multimodal transportation network as a goal for the City. In 2018, the City adopted the Citywide Transportation Plan (RWCmoves) to "Promote the best travel experience possible for everyone in Redwood City by creating and maintaining a safe, multimodal, and accessible transportation network." The Redwood City Ferry Project is one of many projects identified in RWCmoves that seeks to address increased traffic congestion and to provide alternatives to driving alone.

Regional growth in the economy and increases in population throughout the Bay Area have contributed to congestion along the city’s highways and arterial roads. Currently, Redwood City and mid-peninsula residents and commuters are limited to three options to get to and from San Francisco: Caltrain, SamTrans express buses, or personal / carpool vehicle usage. For many residents and commuters, US 101 or Interstate 280 are a part of their commute, contributing to congestion on San Mateo County’s freeways and the San Mateo and Dumbarton bridges. The potential Redwood City ferry would provide another transit option and ferry service has the benefit of being known as a relaxing commuting alternative.

The ferry system is designed to both serve commuting and travel demands and as a key piece of the region’s emergency response infrastructure. After a major event, the ferry system will be relied upon to move first responders to affected areas and will serve as a means of evacuating or transporting victims or those affected by a major earthquake or other disaster. If the region faces a prolonged period without key infrastructure such as bridges or rail transit, the ferry could also be a contributor to the recovery effort.    

Process

The San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) awarded funding to the City to prepare a Financial Feasibility Study and Cost-Benefit Analysis Report of the potential Redwood City Terminal Construction and Service.  The study was completed in 2020 and was presented to and approved by the WETA Board, the Port Commission and the City Council. In April 2021, the TA authorized additional funding to develop a business plan for ferry service. Staff from the Port of Redwood City is leading the business plan development. The business plan will build off of the feasibility study and among other things, develop a more detailed budget, examine issues of organization and governance, analyze equity, identify concerns for future environmental review, continue community engagement and study first and last mile connectivity needs to support ferry service.

The City and WETA also developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that serves as the framework for decision making. As the project progresses the MOU will be updated to identify roles and responsibilities concerning construction, procurement of vessels, capital improvements, maintenance and operations.

Timeline

Documents

• Ferry Financial Feasibility Study & Cost-Benefit and Economic Impact Analyses (Draft Final)
• Ferry Financial Feasibility Study & Cost-Benefit and Economic Impact Analyses (Draft Final Executive Summary)
• Ferry Site Assessment Report (2012 DRAFT)
• Coastal Engineering Analysis (2011 DRAFT)
• Staff Report - Professional Services Agreement with CDM Smith, Inc. to Complete Redwood City Ferry Financial Feasibility Study and Cost-Benefit & Economic Impact Analysis
• Terminal Locational Analysis, Environmental Assessment, & Conceptual Design
  
  • Conceptual Design
  • Biological Assessment
  • Preliminary Wake Analysis
• Redwood City Ferry Business Plan (Draft Final)
• MOU Fully Executed 
• Notice Of Preparation
• Redwood City Ferry Terminal Initial Study

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Upcoming Meetings

Previous Meetings

• February 14, 2022 - City Council Meeting 
• February 9, 2022 - Port of Redwood City Commission Meeting 
• February 3, 2022 - Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) Board Meeting 
• April 1, 2021 - San Mateo County Transportation Authority Board Meeting
• March 30, 2021 - San Mateo County Transportation Authority Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting
• January 11, 2021 - City Council Meeting
• November 18, 2020 - Port of Redwood City Commission Meeting
• November 5, 2020 – Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) Board Meeting
• April-May 2020 - Stakeholder Outreach
• Pop-up Events
• October 12, 2019               San Carlos Art and Wine Faire
• October 5, 2019                 Port Fest
• September 21, 2019           Salsa Fest
• September 7, 2019             Pub in the Park
• August 14, 2019                 Music in the Park
• May 25, 2018 – Tour of Proposed Ferry Terminal Site and Ferry Project Objective

Environmental Review

The environmental review will be completed for the project, along with preliminary design, after completion of the business plan, if the business plan establishes a viable funding strategy and the project partners agree to continue project development.

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