Ferry service to San Francisco’s Treasure Island is officially afloat.
San Francisco city officials gathered Tuesday for the launch of the new service, Fox KTVU reported. About 8,000 homes are set to be built on the island in the coming years, with 229 units expected to become available this year.
“Today marks a significant step forward in realizing the transportation vision for Treasure Island,” Mayor London Breed said in a statement. “This new ferry service will not only increase transit options for existing residents, but it will allow all San Franciscans and visitors of our city an opportunity to experience the current and future amenities that Treasure Island has to offer.”
Treasure Island, a military base from World War II through the first Gulf War, has about 3,000 residents, who make their way to and from the island by car or express buses. The island has a scant offering of stores and restaurants and no public schools.
A $6 billion project, the island is being redeveloped under a public-private partnership between the city and private developers, Stockbridge Capital Group, Wilson Meany, and Lennar Corporation, under the Treasure Island Community Development group. The ferry service is subsidized by the group. The group is also redeveloping the sister island, Yerba Buena, which will have 266 luxury homes.
An additional 1,000 units are expected to be built on Treasure Island by the end of 2024. The full scope of the project consists of the 8,000 units, a fourth of which will be affordable, and 300 acres of parks, and new restaurants, shops, and art installations.
However, the project has been encumbered by several issues, including a class-action suit over radiation on the island and planners struggling to meet the affordable housing quota.
The ferry service will consist of a 48-passenger boat that’ll take riders from the San Francisco Ferry Building’s Gate B to the island. Operated by the company Prop SF, the service will be available 16 hours a day, every day of the week. Tickets will cost $5, and monthly passes will cost $150.
“Treasure Island has long needed this vital connection to the rest of the city and I’m excited to see this finally happening,” District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney said. “Increasing public transit options and making their use easy and convenient for our riders is paramount to our city’s efforts to build a more equitable transportation system.”
City officials are planning on adding another bus line to Treasure Island, with just one San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency bus line running to the city.
[Fox KTVU] — Gabriel Poblete
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