Laserfiche WebLink
8.B. - Page 2 of 25 <br />• 2018 City received $450,000 in Measure A Ferry Program Funding to evaluate the feasibility of <br />ferry service and advise the Port Commission and City Council on next steps in the pursuit of <br />Redwood City ferry service. CDM Smith, Inc. prepared the Ferry Financial Feasibility Study and <br />Cost -Benefit & Economic Impact Analyses. <br />Commuter Ferry Service is one of ten "Signature Projects" in the 2018 Citywide Transportation Plan, <br />RWCmoves. The remaining Signature Projects are six railroad grade separations, two other transit <br />projects, and a highway interchange improvement project. The plan established that once ferry service is <br />deemed feasible and fundable, the next step would be to design and construct a terminal and to <br />coordinate with WETA for operations. Signature Projects are major infrastructure initiatives that require <br />significant resources to plan and deliver, typically over many years, and represent larger or more complex <br />projects. In RWCmoves, projects were prioritized based on scores from eleven performance measures, <br />such as safety, equity, and a project's ability to encourage multi -modal transportation and to reduce <br />congestion on local streets. Signature Projects' evaluation scores ranged from 54 to 69. According to <br />RWCmoves, Commuter Ferry Service had a score of 54, placing it just behind two grade separation <br />projects, the lowest score among the ten signature projects and programs. <br />WETA is a regional public transit agency tasked with operating and expanding ferry service in much of the <br />San Francisco Bay and is responsible for coordinating water transit response to regional emergencies. As <br />a ferry transit operator, WETA has assisted the City and the Port to pursue potential ferry service to and <br />from Redwood City. <br />This Study is a comprehensive effort to understand the ridership market for ferry service, capital and <br />operational costs, and the potential social and economic benefits to Redwood City and the mid -Peninsula. <br />The Study includes an existing conditions analysis and outreach, in addition to estimating ridership, capital <br />and operational costs, benefits, and impacts. WETA staff presented the results of the Study to the WETA <br />Board on November 5, 2020. The Board accepted the Study. The Port Commission received the Study at <br />a November 18, 2020 meeting. The WETA Board and Port Commission both expressed their support for <br />pursuing Redwood City ferry service. <br />Public comments at the WETA and Commission meetings included the following: <br />• Concerns regarding impacts to local flora, fauna, shoreline, and other natural resources. <br />• Concerns that future ferry service may encourage development of incompatible land uses <br />adjacent to Port industrial operations. <br />• Concerns about funding the ferry, unviability of ferry service, lack of access for the public, a non - <br />transparent process, and logistical matters. <br />ANALYSIS <br />The following summarizes the key findings and conclusions of the Study. An executive summary is included <br />as Attachment A and the full Study is available on the City's website at www.redwoodcity.org/ferry. <br />Financial Feasibility Study <br />Page 2 of 8 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore <br />206 <br />