Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
MARTINEZ, Calif. – The City Council Wednesday night unanimously agreed to authorize moving forward on an agreement with a private ferry service for Martinez.
Marina management company Almar and the City of Martinez will work together to establish an access agreement with Prop SF, a ferry service that intends to shuttle between Martinez and San Francisco twice daily, beginning this August. The agreement would allow Prop SF to use infrastructure at the marina, specifically the guest dock, and would also allow non-exclusive parking rights to ferry-going customers and staff. The ferry would carry up to 49 passengers per trip.
“Prop was founded on the idea of improving people’s lives, and we’ve been able to show through private charters elsewhere in the Bay Area that it is something that is long overdue and is working,” said Prop SF founder and CEO, James Jaber, as he addressed the council. “The private side of our business is bringing boats to the bay and proving that we can provide ferry service without the tens of millions of dollars that is typically required for a public service.”
In previous talks with the City, it was mentioned the private service may potentially expand to include public ferry services, an idea that appealed to each council member.
“We’re really excited about this,” said Mayor Rob Schroder. “You’re really filling a gap that the Water Emergency Transit Authority (WETA) is not really willing to fill at this point, nor can they. I think [this] just has tons of potential to help us revitalize our waterfront and downtown. This is the beginning, I think.”
Councilman Mark Ross agreed, saying that where a public ferry service may take $3 million to put a boat in the water, a private sector can look at ferry access in Martinez “almost as a pop-up situation to make it work.”
Ross also stated a safety element would be added to the city with the re-introduction of a ferry service. “We’re going to need to rely on some alternative mode of transportation when the big one (earthquake) hits,” he said.
Jaber confirmed that Prop SF boats would be accessible for emergency responders here and across the straight.
“It’s going to get a lot of attention and bring a lot of attention to our marina, and so for that, I’m very grateful and very supportive of this opportunity for our city,” said Councilwoman Debbie McKillop.
Councilwoman Lara DeLaney expressed equal excitement for the proposal. “Super excited. Such a fabulous, innovative industry you’re bringing here,” DeLaney said.
Councilwoman AnaMarie Avila Farias said that for those who grew up in Martinez and remember the old ferry service, Prop SF was “bringing back history.”
The City Manager expects to have a five-year agreement to present to council for approval by June 1. That would keep Prop SF’s timetable for an August 2016 launch right on schedule.
That’s good news. It will also bring in an influx of folks looking to rent or buy homes, as we are cheaper than the City and Oakland. Throw in the fact that we have Amtrak and a main bus area with six buses going to five different BART stations…here come the commuters.