The Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted Wednesday to include the Redwood City Ferry Terminal and Service Project in Plan Bay Area 2050+, a comprehensive initiative addressing transportation, housing, economic, and environmental challenges in the Bay Area.
The move boosts the project’s chances of securing federal funding, enabling passengers to bypass congested highways and take ferry rides between Redwood City, Oakland, and San Francisco.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President David Canepa, who also serves on the commission, expressed hope that the project’s inclusion among key Bay Area infrastructure initiatives – such as the Irvington BART station, Highway 4 operational improvements, and the U.S. 101 express lane project – will help close the funding gap and bring ferry service closer to reality.
“The Redwood City port and waterfront is a jewel, and electric ferry service connecting the Peninsula to San Francisco and Oakland will expand economic growth and opportunity along this vital Silicon Valley corridor in an environmentally friendly way,” Canepa said. “By reinstating this project in Plan Bay Area, the MTC has recognized its value as a certified federal staging area, which will be critical for the region’s emergency preparedness during natural disasters like earthquakes or mass flooding.”
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To date, the ferry project has secured at least $20 million from San Mateo County and the state, but additional funding is needed to support daily operations. According to the project plan, the total cost is estimated at $194 million. Proponents are optimistic that federal funding will help close the gap, though the exact amount the project may receive is still uncertain.
“By ensuring that water-based transit remains a viable option for our future, we are guaranteeing our region’s health and vitality while introducing ever more people to the wonder that is our Bay,” transportation commissioner Gina Papan said, a former Millbrae councilmember.
The ferry project was previously removed from the plan, which would have made it ineligible for federal transit grants.
Redwood City, home to more than 80,000 residents, is one of several Peninsula cities with a high concentration of tech jobs. It hosts companies such as Oracle and numerous AI and tech startups.
While not as busy as ports in San Francisco and Oakland, the Redwood City Port received a $1.9 million boost last November from the Environmental Protection Agency for climate and air quality planning, part of federal funding granted to several regional ports.
A feasibility study completed in 2021 identified strong demand for ferry service between Redwood City, Oakland, and San Francisco.
According to Redwood City’s website, the goal is to begin construction on the ferry terminal and procure vessels by 2026.
