San Francisco Bay Ferry to Enhance Weekend Oakland & Alameda Service in September
SAN FRANCISCO | August 31, 2021 – The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) today announced that it will enhance weekend service on San Francisco Bay Ferry’s Oakland & Alameda route effective September 4, adding six additional trips to the schedule. This improved weekend schedule will also be in effect on Monday, September 6 as the Bay Area celebrates Labor Day.
The new weekend schedule is available at sanfranciscobayferry.com/new-schedules.
The weekend service enhancement is tied to the system’s Pandemic Recovery Program, which launched on July 1. The Program is designed to incentivize ridership by restoring ferry service throughout the region. The Program also anticipated the need for periodic service adjustments based on ridership trends, operational needs, and rider feedback. The upcoming changes to the Oakland & Alameda route will create more options and increase schedule flexibility for a growing number of passengers.
Since its relaunch in July, San Francisco Bay Ferry has averaged more than 4,000 passengers on each weekend day, equivalent to 59 percent of pre-pandemic seasonal averages. Weekend San Francisco Bay Ferry service resumed on July 3 after a 15-month suspension during the COVID-19 crisis.
WETA also relaunched its weekday service in July, adding the new Alameda Seaplane ferry route for Alameda-based commuters and boosting the number of weekday departures in the ferry system to 30 percent above their pre-pandemic peak. Weekday ridership increased 77 percent in July compared with June as a result.
Weekend ferry service will continue to be offered on the Vallejo and Richmond routes with no schedule changes at this time. Ridership growth has also been strong on these routes and WETA will continue to monitor them and evaluate opportunities to improve the service.
Masks remain required in indoor spaces on the ferry per federal regulations. WETA expects to announce service plans for the San Francisco Giants’ playoff run and the 2021-22 Golden State Warriors season soon.