Plans are in development for a ferry terminal to be added to the port of Redwood City, offering an alternative transportation method for commuters.
The idea for a ferry terminal was first proposed in 2018, and an initial feasibility study for the proposed ferry terminal was finished in 2021, coming back successful. Construction of the project is expected to begin in 2026. The project’s goal is to upgrade the port from simply bringing in or exporting goods to increasing human connection with the rest of the bay.
“We discovered that there is a need for a route from the East Bay to the port of Redwood City, as well as from San Francisco to the port of Redwood City,” Kristine Zortman, the executive director for the port said. “The exciting thing about the East Bay route is that it was something we hadn’t contemplated before. It’s opening up opportunities here on the peninsula to individuals who may live on the East Bay.”
These opportunities are especially important as they could help serve underrepresented communities throughout the region, providing a cheaper, easier and less stressful means of crossing the bay, as well as cutting the three-hour commute, Zortman explained.
“There is no traffic, there is no congestion,” Zortman said, “You’re able to work while you’re on the ferry, and then you get from point A to point B quicker, and you’re dealing with a lot less of the stress of just sitting in traffic.”
Congestion and traffic on the peninsula are largely contributed by Redwood City commuters.
“We have the county building, they have thousands of employees. We have Kaiser [and] we have Stanford. These are very large employers,” Malahat Owrang, the principal transportation planner for Redwood City said. “It can change the traffic patterns [for people who are currently working] in Redwood City and living in other parts of the area.”
Owrang credits commuter times and traffic congestion as the main reasons for the plan’s development. Congestion is the largest contributor to greenhouse gasses in Northern California, and recently, the state has been trying to find solutions for this problem, such as the port terminal.
“[We are] thinking about future generations and how all these greenhouse gas emissions impact our environment in the future,” Owrang said. “So yes, the congestion and all the consequences of congestion is the main reason for the project.”
That being said, the port will most likely start operating on weekdays, prioritizing ferries in the mornings and the evenings for commuters. However, patrons hoping to enjoy their weekends with ferry rides up to the city shouldn’t be discouraged. Zortman hopes to model Redwood City after recent ferry success with recreational travel as well.
“[This summer we launched] a similar type of pilot project to have people ride a ferry up to Giants games on select weekends,” Zortman said. “We’re hopeful that we’re going to also be able to offer that non-commuter service as well.”
Whether you’re a commuter or hoping to watch the Giants at Oracle Park, the ferry is still in the development phase, and experts are currently researching possible environmental effects of the terminal. While the terminal may still be years away, its potential and possibilities for the Port of Redwood City are endless.
“We’re a port; ports are about goods and commodities, including people, transporting via the water,” Zortman said, “And so now the ferry terminal is going to be an opportunity for us to start transporting people via the water.”
