According to recent surveys, Bay Area citizens identify the problem of transportation and congestion as two of the most pressing issues impacting the quality of life in our region.  These same citizens see our transit problems as critical as better schools for our children and crime in our communities.
 
 

Thousands of transit-starved commuters wait to board the next East Bay-bound ferry at a
make-shift terminal in San Francisco.  After years of neglect, ferries are making a stunning
comeback on the Bay.
 

Transportation Diversity
The problem can be understood by viewing it in terms of transportation diversity -- the proliferation of many different forms of transit such as rail, water, bicycle, pedestrian, ride sharing, high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs), and other mass transit.  As the American way of life expanded out from our city centers to the suburbs, the automobile became the dominant form of transportation.  As the automobile became more dominate, our use of and emphasis inas a
 
 
 Why Ferries
 

• Ferries provide a highly efficient means for many people to get to major centers of activity in the Bay Area.  Many Bay Area centers of population are along the water and so can be served well by water transit.
• Ferry service is relatively inexpensive.  A small, well-located terminal and few boats provide a low cost means to move masses of people to key locations throughout a wide region.  Ferries don't require expensive right-of-way that rail service or freeway construction demand.
• Ferries are more friendly to the environment.  As ferries move more people, we reduce our automobile dependency and and thus reduce pollution, parking, and congestion.
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• Ferries reduce congestion by providing transportation diversity.  With more modes of transit, people have more choices to get to their destinations.
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