SF Bay Ferry riders may want to check their wallets before that next trip across the bay. The agency is floating a set of fare increases and is asking the public to weigh in at a 1 PM hearing tomorrow, with a remote option for anyone who cannot show up in person.
Most regular routes would see relatively small bumps, no more than $0.30 in most cases. The outlier is the Alameda Short Hop between Main Street in Alameda and Oakland's Jack London Square, which would see the steepest single increase at about $1.75.
The proposal comes as the agency releases a draft amendment to its fiscal year fare program for public comment. WETA's board packet lists the fare item on the March 5 agenda, and SFGATE reports that agency officials say the changes build on fare adjustments approved in 2023 and are meant to respond to inflation and regional fare policy shifts.
What Would Change
Under the proposed amendment, most one-way fares would tick up slightly, and passengers enrolled in reduced-fare Clipper programs would see small increases as well. Short-hop fares would remain their own category, but the Alameda Short Hop is singled out for the largest jump, turning that quick crossing into a pricier proposition.
For a route-by-route breakdown of proposed fares and the current fare table, see SF Bay Ferry's fare notice.
How To Weigh In
The authority is taking public comment at the 1 PM hearing tomorrow at the Bay Area Metro Center and through remote participation. Those who cannot attend are invited to send written feedback to [email protected]. SFGATE notes that the official public notice spells out how to join the meeting and where to submit written comments.
The board is expected to review all comments before deciding whether to adopt the amendment as proposed.
Why Officials Say Changes Are Needed
Agency leaders describe the increases as modest adjustments that would help SF Bay Ferry keep up with rising operating costs while aligning its prices more closely with those of other Bay Area transit systems, as part of an ongoing fare review. The proposal builds on earlier fare moves made in 2023 and would be folded into the agency's broader fare program if approved.
For now, riders, advocates, and regional policymakers have a limited window to argue for equity protections, push back on the steep Alameda Short Hop increase, or simply tell the board what these fares would mean for their daily commute.
