San Francisco Bay Ferry

**Annual Ridership** | 3,000,000

The **San Francisco Bay Ferry** provides transbay ferry service between San Francisco and Alameda, Oakland, Vallejo/Mare Island, Richmond, and South San Francisco. It is operated by the Blue and Gold Fleet, and administered by Water Emergency Transportation Authority.

## History

Ferry service has been provided across the San Francisco Bay for almost 170 years, by dozens of operators. Before the construction of the Bridge Railway, the Key System and Interurban Electric Railway provided transbay commuter service via train to a pier/mole in Oakland, then via ferry to the San Francisco Ferry Building. The opening of the Bridge Railway, resulted in the demise of the original ferry service. Vallejo ferry service was previously operated by Monticello Steamship Line in the 1900s.

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake disabled the San Francisco Bay Bridge, resulting in an unplanned start to Alameda/Oakland-San Francisco Ferry service. This emergency service became the basis of the San Francisco Bay Ferry network which remains today (since expanded to Vallejo, Richmond, and Seaplane Harbor).

The San Francisco Bay Ferry brand is rather recent.

Oakland/Alameda to San Francisco service was previously operated by **Alameda/Oakland Ferry** and **Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry** until consolidation into the *San Francisco Bay Ferry* name in 2012.

Vallejo service was initially started (or restarted, historically speaking) in 1986. With the introduction of *Intintoli* and *Mare Island*, the service was named **Baylink**.

## Routes

San Francisco - East Bay routes are often referred to by the east bay destination.

### All Day Routes

* **Oakland & Alameda** - Oakland, Main Street Alameda, and San Francisco Ferry Building. No Alameda service before 9 AM (use Harbor Bay).

* **Vallejo** - Vallejo to San Francisco Ferry Building, select trips from Vallejo to Mare Island

* **Richmond** - Richmond to San Francisco Ferry Building

### Commute Only

* **Harbor Bay** - Harbor Bay (Bay Farm Island) to San Francisco Ferry Building. Limited midday service.

* **Alameda Seaplane** - Seaplane Lagoon Alameda to San Francisco Ferry Building during commute times.

* **South San Francisco** - Oakland, Alameda, to South San Francisco (Oyster Point) during commute times.

### Short Hop Routes

* **Alameda Short Hop** - Alameda to Oakland

* **Pier 41 Short Hop** - Pier 41 Marine Terminal to San Francisco Ferry Building, weekends only.

### Seasonal Sports Routes

* **Ballpark Short Hop** - SF - Oracle Park free short hop, during daytime before game

* **Oakland - Ballpark** - Direct evening game day service from Oakland Jack London Square to Oracle Park

* **Main Street Alameda - Ballpark** - Direct evening game day service from Alameda (Main Street) to Oracle Park

* **Alameda/Oakland - Chase Center** - Suspended. Alameda (Main Street) and Oakland (Jack London Sq) to Pier 48/Chase Center (SF) Warriors home games and select special events.

### All Day Routes

* **Oakland & Alameda** - Central Bay Class, North Bay High Speed Class, Gemini Class, Peralta (infrequent), Bay Breeze (infrequent)

* **Vallejo** - North Bay High Speed Class, Central Bay Class, Intintoli, Mare Island

* **Richmond** - Central Bay Class, Gemini Class, Peralta

### Commute Only

* **Harbor Bay** - Gemini Class, Bay Breeze

* **Alameda Seaplane** - Central Bay Class, Peralta

* **South San Francisco** - Gemini Class, Bay Breeze

### Seasonal Sports Routes

* **Ballpark Short Hop** - Gemini Class

* **Oakland - Ballpark** - Gemini Class

* **Main Street Alameda - Ballpark** - Gemini Class

* **Alameda/Oakland - Chase Center** - Gemini Class

## Vessels

Four currently operating ferries (Mare Island, Intintoli, Peralta, and Bay Breeze) were operated previously by Alameda and Vallejo, and kept their previous names. New vessels built for WETA are named after celestial constellations.

## Future vessels

* 32-knot service speed.
 *Delphinus* | Dorado Class |  | 2022
* $15 million cost.
* Hull under construction as of 10/21

## External links

### References

* https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/about-our-fleet

1. ↑ ABC News
2. ↑  SF Gate
3. ↑ Marine Link
4. ↑ [1]
5. ↑ Kitsap Daily News