The City of Berkeley is proposing to replace the closed Berkeley Pier with a new 1,080-foot pier, a 400-foot breakwater, and associated ferry boarding infrastructure. The project also includes plans for up to 450 new parking spaces. Proposed ferry service would connect the site to the San Francisco Ferry Building, with potential future service to Larkspur. Current preliminary cost estimates range from $103 million to $122 million, although some public comments have noted the potential for much higher costs as site remediation and construction advance.
The City has released a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for public review, and is inviting comments.
WOM Berkeley has evaluated the document with particular attention to the project’s impact on the region’s broader public transportation system. A well-functioning transit network is essential to supporting economic vitality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, alleviating congestion, and improving overall quality of life.
At the same time, the regional transit system is facing significant fiscal challenges. Recent developments include:
A $590 million emergency loan to sustain ongoing transit operations
Bay Area Rapid Transit projecting a $350–$400 million structural deficit, with the possibility of substantial service reductions
AC Transit projecting a $74 million deficit in fiscal year 2026–27
Within this context, key considerations for the proposed Berkeley ferry include the project’s capital costs, its anticipated operating subsidies, and its potential effects on ridership and revenue across existing transit providers, including BART, AC Transit, and established ferry services. These factors are important in evaluating how the project fits within broader regional transportation priorities and funding constraints. Such an assessment is missing from the Draft EIR, and should be addressed in the final document.
Detailed comments on the Draft EIR are available here: WOM EIR Comments – Berkeley Ferry Project.
If you share our concerns, please communicate them to city officials by April 28, 2026. All the information is here.Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department
2180 Milvia Street, 3rd Floor
Berkeley, CA 94704
Email: lmcnulty@berkeleyca.gov
