.
By replacing dirty diesel with cleaner technologies such as natural gas, biodiesel, solar/wind energy, and eventually fuel cells, ferries could generate much lower or even zero emissions. The WTA is studying such alternatives, but there are fears that it may show favoritism towards diesel.
Wakes, wildlife, and other worries
A range of other issues need to be addressed.
• Wakes: Fast ferries generate long, steep wakes that cause erosion along beaches. New ferries must be designed to minimize wakes and must operate at speeds that prevent erosion.
• Wildlife: Fast ferries can disturb rafting birds, marine mammals, and other wildlife. Ferries may need to be rerouted and slowed down when whales and rafting birds are in the Bay. Loud engine noise and underwater jet noise can disturb marine life. Hulls with hydrofoils or other underwater protrusions have already taken a deadly toll on marine mammals around the world.
• Terminals: Terminals must not be constructed in environmentally sensitive areas or, in most cases, parks, nor where propeller disturbance will stir up bottom sediment in shallow areas or where constant dredging would be required.
• Development: Terminals should be built only in already developed areas where they will not induce sprawl, and compact mixed-use transit-oriented development should be encouraged around them.
• Transit: Ferry systems should be linked to bus, train, and other mass-transit systems, and not encourage increased use of cars. Bicyclists should have the choice of carrying their bikes on board for free, or free bike parking. Automobile parking should not be free; drivers should pay the full costs of parking. (Currently, more than 90 percent of ferry riders drive to the terminals.)
• Cost efficiency: The operating subsidy should not exceed those of other public-transit systems and should not deplete subsidies for less costly systems.
• Environmental justice: Ferries and terminals should serve a diverse community of riders including low-income travelers and people of color. Emissions should not threaten the health of shoreline communities.
What You Can Do
The Bay Area Water Transit Authority is holding “scoping” sessions on the proposed ferry expansion. This is the stage in the environmental review process where the public gets to raise concerns that must be studied. It is critical that the agency hear clearly that there is wide public concern. Please attend one of these hearings:
• Wed., Nov. 14, 7 pm, County Office Building Room 101, 455 County Center, Redwood City.
• Tue., Nov. 27, 3 - 6 pm, San Francisco, Big Conference Room, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, 50 California St., #2600.
• Wed., Dec. 5, 7 pm, City Council Chambers, Sunnyvale City Hall, 456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale.
Hearings will be held on other dates in November and December in the other Bay Area counties.
Write to:
Steve Castleberry, Bay Area Water Transit Authority, 120 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94111. Voice your concerns about the specific environmental, transportation, and development issues which need to be studied and addressed before any ferry expansion.
For more information on the WTA, go to www.watertransit.org or call 415/291-3377.
A new Clean Ferry Coalition has formed to watchdog the ferry planning process. To join, or to be added to the ferry alert list, contact Teri Shore of Bluewater Network at tshore@earthisland.org or phone 415/788-3666, ext. 159.