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South San Francisco Ferry Terminal
South San Francisco Ferry Terminal
General information
Location	911 Marina Blvd; South San Francisco, California 94080
Coordinates	37°39′46″N 122°22′38″W / 37.662694°N 122.377271°W
Construction
Parking	35 spaces
Bicycle facilities	12 lockers; 12 spaces in racks
History
Opened	June 4, 2012
Location
Location

The South San Francisco Ferry Terminal is the only operating ferry terminal in San Mateo County, California. Boats are operated there by the San Francisco Bay Ferry company, and connect the city of South San Francisco to the Oakland Ferry Terminal in Jack London Square as well as Alameda, California.

Construction began in 2009^[1] and the ferry service started on June 4, 2012. While a ferry service between San Francisco and ports to the south existed as far south as San Jose and Alviso during the 1800s,^[2] most passengers to Peninsula destinations took the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad after it was completed in 1864 as part of the transcontinental railway.

Design and construction

The new ferry terminal is the first ferry terminal built south of San Francisco for many years. The Oyster Point Marina land is owned by the City of South San Francisco (SSF). The San Mateo County Harbor District operates the land under a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of SSF.

A 1992 report stated that ferry service between SSF and San Francisco (Ferry Building) or San Leandro would not be feasible, based on low projected ridership and inadequate farebox recovery ratios. It was noted that neither city had a strong history of transit ridership as ridership was low; 155 passengers per day for the ride to San Francisco, and 50 to 150 passengers per day between SSF and San Leandro.^[3]

The ferry terminal was built at a cost of US$26,000,000 (equivalent to $34,510,000 in 2023) in 2012, raised through an increase in San Mateo County sales taxes; an additional US$16,000,000 (equivalent to $21,230,000 in 2023) from increased bridge tolls paid for two new ferries.^[4]

The two ferries operated are the twin-hull catamarans Gemini and Pisces, dubbed the "nation's most environmentally-friendly ferries," each equipped with low-emissions diesel engines and featuring space for 149 passengers, 34 bicycles, on-board Wi-Fi, and solar panels.^[5]^[6] The ferries measure 116 feet (35 m) long and can cruise at 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph).^[7]

Operation

Average Daily Boardings^[8]
Year	Jan	July	Avg^[a]
2012	N/A	141	N/A
2013	118	366	161
2014	307	365	333
2015	445	463	422
2016	483	496	479
2017	437	576	514
2018	575	—	552^[b]
Notes ^ Average computed for the operating year, July–June. First full operating year was July 2012 through June 2013. ^ Through Feb 2018

Connections

The nearest freeway connection is the Oyster Point Boulevard exit from Highway 101. There is on-site parking for 35 vehicles and 24 bicycles.^[9]

The ferry terminal is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from the nearest public transportation, at the South San Francisco Caltrain commuter rail station. A free shuttle bus, sponsored by local employers but open to the public, connects the South San Francisco Ferry Terminal, Oyster Point area office buildings, and the South San Francisco Caltrain station during weekday commute hours.^[10]

Ridership

The farebox recovery ratio was 17% at the end of 2013, and the service was in danger of not meeting the required 40% recovery ratio by the end of the 2014–15 fiscal year on June 30, 2015.^[11] As of 2017, the farebox recovery ratio had increased to 38%.^[12]

Routes

Service was first offered to Alameda, Oakland on the weekdays starting in 2012.^[13]

One round trip per day is scheduled to the San Francisco Ferry Building (next to the south side of Ferry Building - Gate E) and Pier 41 on Wednesday and Fridays effective April 29, 2013.^[14] Return times are approximately 30 minutes from SSF to SF Ferry Building, but these differ by the day of the week.

References

^ "Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) begins South San Francisco Ferry Terminal Construction". Metropolitan Transportation Commission. October 14, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
^ Nolte, Carl (April 13, 2013). "Jenny Lind ferry disaster commemoration". San Francisco Chronicle. Sfchronicle.com. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
^ Pacific Transit Management Corporation (September 1992). Regional Ferry Plan, San Francisco Bay Area (Report). Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
^ Matier, Phil; Ross, Andrew (March 17, 2013). "South San Francisco ferry loaded with subsidies". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
^ Douglas, Shirley (December 2008). "Gemini, WETA's First New Ferry, Reports for Duty". Bay Crossings. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
^ "Bay Area Christens Gemini, the Nation's Most Environmentally Friendly Ferry" (Press release). Metropolitan Transportation Commission. December 12, 2008.
^ Nolte, Carl (November 26, 2008). "Bay Area ferry fleet welcomes new green boat". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
^ "South San Francisco Ferry Service Status Report" (PDF). Water Emergency Transportation Authority. May 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
^ "From Oakland Jack London Square to South San Francisco". San Francisco Bay Ferry. March 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
^ "So. San Francisco-Oyster Point Ferry". Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance. 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
^ Swartz, Angela (August 6, 2014). "Ferry frustration mounts: Officials want South city passenger numbers to grow, higher fares could result otherwise". San Mateo Daily Journal. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
^ "San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority Strategic Plan Regional Measure 3" (PDF). Water Emergency Transportation Authority. February 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
^ "Oyster Point Ferry Service Starting June 4". SFO Connect. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
^ Gackle, Paul (April 4, 2013). "South San Francisco ferry boosting service in hopes of attracting more riders". San Francisco Examiner. Sfexaminer.com. Retrieved July 16, 2013.