San Francisco Bay Ferry is set to make a splash in sustainable transportation after receiving an $11 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) aimed at bolstering the nation's first high-speed battery electric ferries, directly impacting how residents and tourists will navigate the bustling waterfront of the city. According to the agency's San Francisco Bay Ferry press release, this marks a significant leap in SF Bay Ferry's ambitious Rapid Electric Emission-Free Ferry (REEF) Program, a comprehensive initiative to electrify its fleet.
The federal grant is expected to accelerate Phase 1 of the REEF Program, encompassing the procurement of three 150-passenger electric vessels that will cater to Treasure Island, Mission Bay, Downtown San Francisco, and additional emerging waterfront communities. These areas are now witnessing the fruits of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to modernizing urban transport and reducing emissions significantly. Jim Wunderman, Chair of SF Bay Ferry’s Board of Directors, celebrated the grant, stating, "San Francisco’s waterfront is thriving, and this award will make sure that they are connected and accessible using state-of-the-art, zero-emission, congestion-reducing ferries," according to San Francisco Bay Ferry, while crediting the support from key political figures such as House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Senator Alex Padilla.
The recent grant boosts WETA's REEF Program funding to approximately $136 million, a pot amassed from various local, state, and federal resources vested with the vision of a greener ferry system. The funds are earmarked for various projects, including system planning, acquiring new battery-electric vessels, and the necessary shoreside infrastructure, providing a comprehensive approach to SF Bay Ferry's transition to emission-free transport.
Looking ahead, the program envisions an aggressive expansion, with plans for two new 400-passenger battery-electric vessels, a retrofit of four diesel ferries to zero-emission technologies, terminal electrification, and a boost to the Central Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility in Alameda, the last being another display of the sweeping changes the REEF Program intends to enact. SF Bay Ferry has unveiled the designs for these transformative vessels and, according to the San Francisco Bay Ferry press release, is poised to begin the contract procurement process this fall, with the first vessel delivery anticipated for 2026.
