On october 17, 1989, the loma prieta earthquake of magnitude 7.1Disrupted the bay area's transportation system. Most noticeable, from a commuter's standpoint, was the loss of the use of the san francisco-oakland bay bridge (sfobb). Emergency ferry service was developed immediately to provide transportation between san francisco (in the west bay) and oakland, alameda, richmond, and berkeley in the east bay, all under one contract with the red and white fleet (owned bycrowley maritime). This service lasted from october 23, 1989, through march 23, 1990. Caltrans also chartered three washington state ferries to supplement the preexisting vallejo-to-san francisco servicefrom october 30, 1989, to january 9, 1990. The red and white fleet also operated this service as subcharterer of the washington vessels. Some of the problems that arose in operating the ferry service were the constant need to revise the different service contracts and ferry schedules, especially early on, as well as the uncertainty of federal emergency management agency reimbursement. Overall, however, the program was successful in providing an alternative commute mode for transbay travelers while the sfobb was inoperative, and even after it was repaired. Evolving from the emergency service was the 1-year oakland/alameda-to-san francisco ferry service pilot program as well as the development of a long-range plan for permanent bay area ferry service. The problems and successes of the emergency ferry service from start-up activities, through operations, to its present status are described. The main items of focus include ridership trends, operating costs and reimbursement, public sentiment, and legislationrelating to the service. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1297, Public transit research: management and planning 1991.
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