Residents question ferry takeover

At a special Transportation Commission meeting Wednesday night, Alameda residents said they were blindsided by the passage of SB 976, a bill recently signed into law this week that transfers the city’s ferry services to a new regional authority.

“My philosophy, being a country girl, has always been if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Janet Jones, a regular ferry rider. “The ferry’s the one thing in my life that works really great.”

While supporters of the law say a new regional authority would coordinate emergency efforts in an event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack, others question whether ferry services and fares can be maintained under the new system.

Some also wonder whether the new law would relinquish too much local power to a regional authority led by a five-member, state appointed board.

“That is not local control,” said John Knox White, chairman of the Alameda Transportation Commission. “It should give us some pause.”

Those who criticized the clarity of the law directed their questions to staff members of Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, who helped push the bill along the state legislature. Staff members said the law would allow for $250 million to pour into the region for more ferry routes and boats.

Staffers also maintained that the new ferry system would also be critical in getting the region up and running sooner in the aftermath of a large disaster, where Bay Area bridges would essentially be useless for traffic.

Under the bill, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority would manage and operate all ferries in the Bay Area except for those under the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. Currently the city of Alameda runs it own ferry services but is part of a the Bay Area Water Transit Authority.

Staff members from Perata’s office said they would like to continue working with the city and its residents on a clean-up legislation in January.

Lisa Goldman, deputy city manager, said the city will be requesting to have a representative on the new board, that current ferry services be maintained for seven years and that the new board will work with Alameda Point developers so that a ferry terminal can be accommodated in the area.