Bay Area Ferry History

1930's

• 15 times greater ridership than today with only 25% of today's population

• 250,000 passengers used 320+ vessel trips connecting to Ferry Terminal streetcars every 90 seconds

• Ferries are the preferred mode of transbay transportation

 

1941

• North Bay ferry service terminates 4 years after Gold Gate Bridge opening

• Inexpensive gas, highway construction, usher in unprecedent personal car freedom

  1969

• Ferry service resumes on the Bay responding to increased traffic

  1989

• Loma Prieta Earthquake disables Bay Bridge, increasing ferry ridership and jumpstarting new routes

  Today

• Infrastructure improvements lag behind population growth, increasing congestion