City of Alameda ● California
2263 Santa Clara Avenue
Alameda, California 94501-4477
510.747.6800 • Fax 510.865.4053 • TTY510.522.7538
Printed on Recycled Paper
June 2022
Ms. Tess Lengyel
Executive Director
Alameda County Transportation Commission
1111 Broadway, Suite 800
Oakland, CA 94607
Re: Partnership and Support for Alamed a-Oakland Estuary Water Shuttle Pilot Program
Dear Ms. Lengyel:
On behalf of our partnership of private compan ies, non-profit organizations and public agencies, we are excited to be working together to close on e of the most critical transportation gaps in the East Bay: the lack of pedestrian and bicy cle access between Downtown Oakland and West Alameda. With the help of the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), our partnership is ready to bring a free, public wate r shuttle pilot program to fruition in 2023. Our partnership is requesting $500,000 per year in grant funding from the 2024 Comprehensive Investment Plan (CIP). Our partnership is co mmitted to funding the re maining 75% of the two- year pilot program costs, totaling $1,500,000 per year, for each of the two pilot years.
The proposed free, public Alameda-Oakland Water Shuttle Pilot Pr ogram will provide a sustainable, comfortable and enjoyable transpor tation link between West Alameda, Jack London Square and Downtown Oakland. Providing five days of regul ar service (Tuesdays through Saturdays) operating approximately every 15 minut es, the service will provide a much needed transportation option for people on foot or bike to cross the estuary without an automobile and without relying on the substandard, unpleasant and dangerous 36 inch wide, ¾ mile long pathway in the Posey Tube.
The service will increase active transportation options for Alameda residents commuting to downtown Oakland and BART, and employees to co mmute to jobs in Alameda; create a much needed link between the commercial facilities in Jack London Square and the residents and employees of Alameda; and add opportunities fo r residents of Jack London Square to access shopping, employment and recreation opportunities in Alameda, including at Target and Safeway.
Based upon a travel demand study funded by AC TC and completed in 2021 for the proposed Alameda-Oakland Pedestrian and Bicycle Brid ge, between Alameda Landing and Jack London Square, the water shuttle service has the potential to serve over 1000 trips per day.
Our partnership has the financial commitment, expertise and facilities to make this pilot program a success. Our partnership includes:
Financial commitment. Together, our partnership commits to providing at least $1,500,000 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6FA7769F-D500-4B8D-8AB6-C75E051C59C4
Alameda-Oakland Estuary Water Shuttle Pilot Program Grant Application June 2022
toward the annual operations of this pilot program, for each of two years. Operations experience . The Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) will administer and oversee the service.
Marketing expertise . The City of Alameda, WETA, the Alameda Transportation Management Agency and our private partners will market the service to Alameda and Oakland residents, employees, businesses and visitors.
Existing Docking Facilities. The partnership has access to public docking facilities for the service at Jack London Square, Marina Village and Alameda Landing, as well as facilities for overnighting the vessel.
The timing is finally right for a water shuttle service, with many new housing units, jobs and commercial services now in place, and more to come, along the estuary; and the significant financial commitments of the privat e sector. To help make this se rvice a reality, we all strongly support the City of Alameda’s Alameda-Oakla nd Estuary Water Shuttle Pilot Program grant application, and look forward to being active partners in helping the pilot service succeed and working towards making this a permanent transportation option.
Sincerely,
City of Alameda, Interim City Manager Dirk Brazil Approved as to Form, City Attorney
_____________________________ ______________________________ Celena Chen, Assistant City Attorney
Alameda Transportation Management Association, President Michael O’Hara
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Blue Rise Ventures, Vice President, Development, Eric Tecza
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CIM Group, General Manager/Vice President On-Site Property Management, Jennifer Nettles
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Jack London Improvement District, Executive Director Savlan Hauser
______________________________
Water Emergency Transportation Authority, Executive Director Seamus Murphy
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West Alameda Transportation Management Association, President Sean Whiskeman
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 6FA7769F-D500-4B8D-8AB6-C75E051C59C4