Loma Prieta Earthquake Disables Bay Bridge
On the evening of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, captains operating harbor cruises sprung into action, creating an impromptu ferry service carrying stranded commuters from the Ferry Building in San Francisco to a dock near Scott’s Seafood in Oakland’s Jack London Square. The vessels ran all night while BART inspected the Transbay Tube and emergency responders evacuated the City.
This was effectively the rebirth of East Bay ferry service. In the coming months, local agencies worked to bring in ferries from Catalina Island and the Puget Sound to help support ferry service while the Bay Bridge was repaired. The City of Alameda eventually started the Alameda Oakland Ferry Service as a part of its transportation program. In the wake of the earthquake, the Vallejo BayLink service became more focused on commuters.