Alameda Enhances Ferry Terminal Security, Introduces Paid Parking to Ease Congestion

To increase safety and improve the rider experience, the City of Alameda has announced enhanced security measures at its ferry terminals. As detailed on the city's official website, security guards will now be stationed at the Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal each weekday. This decision directly responds to feedback from ferry riders and marks a coordinated initiative with the San Francisco Bay Ferry.

There's currently a plan to bring similar security upgrades to the Seaplane Lagoon and Main Street Ferry Terminals. The timing of these enhancements is tied to the introduction of paid parking at these locations, with Harbor Bay set to start charging this summer. Although payment kiosks are already installed at Harbor Bay, they're yet to be activated. The paid parking will follow a specific schedule, charging $3 per day only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, to free up parking space on these heavier traffic days.

Ferry patrons can pay for parking through a mobile app, text message, or at pay stations on-site. Aligning with commuter convenience, the city aims to engineer a mobile payment system that permits riders to handle their parking fees post-boarding. While a specific starting date for the paid parking at Harbor Bay hasn't been set, the public will be kept in the loop with advanced notice through various communication channels, including vehicle flyers and onboard announcements, as reported on Alameda's news bulletin.

Alternative methods of reaching the terminals on peak days are encouraged, which include riding on Mondays and Fridays instead, or opting for the bus, biking, or walking. It should be noted that 2-hour parking zones are enforced around the area, and AC Transit Line 21 continues to offer free transit to the ferry terminal with a Clipper card. Furthermore, the ParkSmarter app is anticipated to become instrumental for citywide mobile parking payments when it goes live later this year, following replacing malfunctioning pay stations on Park Street, according to the City of Alameda.