Two weeks ago, Alameda residents met with representatives from the office of Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata to discuss the consolidation of Bay Area ferry services.
Michael Krueger, member of the Transportation Commission, asked why the consolidation exempted Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, the largest ferry operator in the region. Kruegger said if the idea of consolidation is emergency preparedness, why is the largest operator being left out of the equation.
Perata representatives were unable to answer that question at that time.
John Grubb, spokesperson of the Bay Area Council, a business group that pushed for consolidation, said the state does not have the authority to bring the transit company into the plan because it is a private operator.
Grubb said there were talks with the transit company about possibly joining the consolidation.
“But at this time they wanted to continue to operate themselves,” Grubb said.
Grubb also said that the transit company agreed to cede control of ferry boats to the new authority in an event of an emergency.
Filed under: City Government, Education
