REDWOOD NEEDLES
REDWOOD NEEDLESPresented by the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter Newsletter, The REDWOOD NEEDLES
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by Teri Shore, Bluewater Network
Transforming the sleepy, silted-in Port Sonoma marina on Highway 37 into a modern ferry terminal is being considered as part of a new effort to expand ferry service on San Francisco Bay. More than 20 ferry terminals serviced by as many as 70 fast ferries are envisioned by the San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA).
In the North Bay, the WTA also plans to study potential new terminals at Gnoss Field, San Quentin, San Rafael Canal, San Rafael Quarry, and the Marin Rod & Gun Club site. Vallejo's popular ferry service is also slated for expansion. In addition, a new Golden Gate Recreational Ferry loop is being studied.
Proposed expansion of the Bay Area's ferry fleet could convert tens of thousands of daily commuters from cars to mass transit-but, if not carefully planned, it could also increase air and water pollution, threaten wetlands and wildlife, and spur shoreline development.
SF Bay Chapter has taken a position which supports many of the issues mentioned below. Sonoma Group is considering adopting similar positions with special emphasis on the environmental issues and undesirable growth potential associated with the Port Sonoma landing site.
These are some of the environmental issues that must be addressed before expanding ferry service:
• Marine diesel engines degrade air quality; cleaner technologies and fuels should be encouraged alternatives.• Water quality must be protected through prevention of oil, fuel or wastewater spills.
• Wetlands should not be destroyed or disturbed by ferries or terminals.
• Use of low wake ferries and slower ferry speeds will help protect shorelines from erosion.
• Wildlife should be protected from ferry disturbance, including rafting birds, whales and other marine life.
• New ferries should not increase noise pollution.
• Terminals should not be developed where constant dredging would be required.
• Terminals should be built only in developed areas where they will not induce sprawl and should be linked to bus, train, and other mass-transit systems.
• Construction of new parking lots should be avoided.
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What You Can Do
The Bay Area Water Transit Authority is holding "scoping" sessions on the proposed ferry expansion. This is the stage in the environmental review process where the public gets to raise concerns that must be studied, and to define the methods of analysis and level of detail in the programmatic EIR for all the landing sites and any operational impacts. This is our primary chance to have input for environmental, transportation, land use, and environmental justice concerns. Please attend one of these hearings:
Napa/Solano Counties: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 7 - 9 p.m. John F. Kennedy County Library, Joseph Meeting Room, 505 Santa Clara St., Vallejo
Sonoma County: Tuesday, Dec. 11, 7 - 9 p.m., Craft Room #1, Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma.
Hearings are also being held in other Bay Area counties.
Write about your concerns to: Steve Castleberry, Bay Area Water Transit Authority, 120 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94111 or email castleberry@watertransit.org. For more information on the WTA, go to http://www.watertransit.org or call 415/291-3377.
A new Clean Ferry Coalition will watchdog the ferry planning process. To join contact Teri Shore at tshore@earthisland.org or phone 415/788-3666, ext. 159. View Bluewater's report at http://www.bluewaternetwork.org
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