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San Francisco Celebrates Official Launch of Treasure Island Ferry Service

Beginning today, ferry service between the Treasure Island Terminal and San Francisco’s Ferry Building will operate seven days per week

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed, Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA), and Treasure Island Community Development (TICD) today celebrated the official launch of ferry service to and from Treasure Island, marking a critical milestone in the redevelopment of the former Naval Station.

“Today marks a significant step forward in realizing the transportation vision for Treasure Island,” said Mayor Breed. “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. I want to thank everyone at Treasure Island Community Development and PROP SF for working together to make this service available.”

Initial service will be operated by PROP SF, with ferries departing the Island to and from San Francisco, 16 hours per day, seven days per week. A one-way fare will be a flat rate of $5 for all individuals, with monthly passes available for $150. Children age four and under can ride for free, aligning with policies of other Bay Area transit agencies. Individuals can access the ferry at Gate B at the San Francisco Ferry Building, or at the new Treasure Island Ferry Terminal, located near the historic Administration Building on the southwestern corner of the Island.

TICD, the master developer of Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island, is subsidizing the cost of operating the new service, making it possible to begin ferry service years earlier than would otherwise have been possible.

“This ferry service will further connect Treasure Island with the rest of San Francisco. Quick and convenient transit connections are crucial for our existing residents and for the new residents and businesses to come,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “I am thrilled that the ferry will operate seven days per week through this partnership, opening up new ways for residents and visitors to access and experience parks, businesses, homes, and services.”

“Treasure Island has long needed this vital connection to the rest of the City and I’m excited to see this finally happening,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney. “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.”

“We felt it was critical to jumpstart the ferry service to expand transportation options for new and existing residents, workers and visitors. Providing a fast, convenient and low-cost connection between Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island and the City opens up opportunities for tourism, commuting and commerce,” said Chris Meany of TICD. “It’s a leap forward in integrating Treasure Island with the rest of San Francisco.”

Ferry service connecting Treasure Island to downtown San Francisco is a cornerstone of the development plan for the Island. The roll-out of an immediate robust public transit program is essential as the first 229 new housing units of the years-long development will be completed in 2022—including 105 units for formerly homeless veterans—along with more than 1,000 additional units expected to be completed by the end of 2024. At build-out, Treasure Island will transform into a diverse, transit-oriented community with 8,000 new homes, 300 acres of parks, trails, open space, new restaurants, destination spaces and shops, public art installations, and exciting events.

TICD will operate ferry service for the first few years using a 48-passenger boat. After that, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) will operate the service using 100-passenger ferries. Currently, the Island is served by the 25-Muni line to Transbay Terminal, but future transportation plans will boost badly needed transit options. In addition to the WETA ferry service, plans include AC Transit bus service to the East Bay, an additional Muni line into San Francisco, an on-island shuttle, and bike and carshare programs.

“We applaud TICD for stepping up and launching the interim ferry service, which will benefit residents and businesses. The milestone demonstrates progress in our efforts to expand transportation opportunities that will transform Treasure Island into the City’s most unique new neighborhood,” said Fei Tsen, President, TIDA Board of Directors.

For more information, ferry timetables, and to sign up to receive email updates, please visit tisf.com/schedule or follow @TISanFrancisco and @YerbaBuenaIslandSF on Instagram and Facebook.

About Treasure Island and TIDA

Treasure Island is a man-made island that was constructed concurrent with the construction of the Bay Bridge and hosted the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. The Island was activated as a United States Naval Base in 1940 and played a substantial role in World War II and the Korean War. In 1993, the Federal Government placed the Treasure Island Naval Station on its Base Realignment and Closure list and it was formally decommissioned in 1997. In 1994, the City began to conduct hearings and community meetings that informed the redevelopment plan that will result in a new San Francisco neighborhood incorporating residents of various socio-economic backgrounds. The Treasure Island Development Authority was also formed in 1997 as a non-profit, public benefit agency dedicated to the economic development of the former Naval Station and the administration of municipal services.

About Treasure Island Community Development (TICD)

Treasure Island Community Development (TICD) is a partnership of Stockbridge Capital Group/Wilson Meany and Lennar Corp. TICD was selected as the City’s private development partner in 2003 and worked with staff from the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the Treasure Island Development Authority, and the Planning Department to formulate and refine plans for the development of Treasure Island. The development plan and related entitlement and transaction documents were approved in 2011, and development activity began following the first transfer of land from the Navy in 2015. Wilson Meany and Stockbridge are the developers of Yerba Buena Island. TICD is responsible for financing, designing and constructing the new utilities, roadways, and other public infrastructure needed to serve both islands, and will be developing the much of the new housing.

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