Berkeley Marina on On-line Metropolis Workshop Agenda

Tonight, the town of Berkeley will maintain a web based group workshop to debate, amongst different issues, the feasibility of a ferry line in Berkeley Marina.

Tonight’s dialogue can be a part of the Berkeley Marina Particular Plan, a extra two-year planning undertaking meant to create a path for “attaining a financially self-sustainable, publicly owned marina.” The ferry has been into consideration as a part within the Marina’s monetary future for practically two years now. (A hyperlink to the assembly can be supplied beneath.)

It’s unattainable to easily dip one’s toes in a dialogue of the ferry, or of Berkeley Marina usually. The ferry has been controversial as a result of it could change the character of the Marina from a leisure vacation spot into to a commuter-hub. Precisely how a lot Berkeley Marina would possibly change, and what advantages or impediments a ferry would possibly provide, are the topic of fierce debate. (We first wrote concerning the professionals and cons of a Berkeley ferry line in 2020.)

Here’s a transient abstract of a number of the points:

A brand new ferry line has been inextricably forged as a supply of funding for a rebuild the College Avenue Pier, which was shuttered in 2015. The Water Emergency Transportation Authority, or WETA, who’s pushing for and would run the brand new ferry line, would pay for a part of a “dual-use” ferry and recreation pier. One supply instructed us that WETA would pay for 600 ft of latest pier, the place they’d additionally construct a terminal. (Sources have instructed us that WETA shouldn’t be enthusiastic about having their ferries within the Marina, which might add time to any route.)

The pier is at the moment round 3,000 ft, and estimates for a rebuild of this dimension are round $40 million.

Is the Metropolis of Berkeley tying its municipal funding fortunes to the ferry, believing that it’s the solely technique to get a brand new pier? Skeptics of the ferry line have stated that there are any variety of pier-funding choices, together with placing a bond subject on the poll, or searching for out state monies.

It’s crucial to first perceive the Metropolis of Berkeley’s want for funding for a brand new pier to place the remainder of the talk into context.

What would ridership on a brand new Berkeley ferry line appear to be?

Is anybody able to say what does the post-pandemic work world will appear to be? Will everybody be returning to the workplace, or will new “hybrid” work fashions rule the panorama?

WETA’s ridership statistics say that in 2035, the projected every day ridership for the Berkeley line can be 1,589 individuals, with annual ridership  simply over 203,000 within the first 12 months, and rising by 1.78% yearly. Skeptics of the brand new ferry line say that WETA ridership has been historically overestimated.

Opponents of the ferry say {that a} new line wouldn’t present common taxable income to the Marina Fund — the self-sustaining coffer meant to finance all Berkeley Marina infrastructure and operations — in the best way that eating places, inns and different companies situated within the Marina do. Numerous officers from the Metropolis of Berkeley have stated {that a} ferry could possibly be a sort of “catalyst” for extra foot site visitors visiting the inns and eating places within the Marina.

Given its geographic isolation from the remainder of Berkeley, the Marina appears an unlikely vacation spot for vacationers. That is our opinion, and thoughts you, we passionately love Berkeley Marina. But it surely’s not near something. The eating places, bars and retailers of West Berkeley are a mile and a half away — a half hour stroll, in keeping with Google Maps. Does anybody actually suppose {that a} common, cash-wielding provide of vacationers will purchase a ticket, depart San Francisco and trek throughout Berkeley Marina, or West Berkeley at massive?

Lastly, there’s parking. The place do you place all of these vehicles going to catch a ship? The Metropolis of Berkeley is seemingly planning to designate 250 parking areas within the now-shuttered Hs. Lordship’s parking zone. (H.s. Lordships closed in 2018; a brand new enterprise has not claimed the constructing.)

That is the place the trimmings of a brand new ferry might considerably change the Marina from a recreational- to a commuter-hub.

After which there are different points, such the character of the allow granted to Berkeley Marina as a public belief designed for recreation by each the California State lands Fee and the BCDC. There’s the truth that WETA doesn’t at the moment have a viable “clear and inexperienced” ferry. (Ferries are among the many least-efficient and highest-emission commuting choices.)

After which there may be the best way Berkeley Marina is funded. We haven’t touched on this in our earlier reporting, however some sources have instructed us that the Marina Fund has been plundered by the town through the years, and that Berkeley Marina could possibly be financially self-sustaining, if the Fund have been simply left alone.

We are going to proceed to report on the ferry line debate because it develops.

Right here’s the Zoom hyperlink for tonight’s assembly.