The new $16M Richmond Ferry Terminal Project ended a 20 year gap in ferry service between the San Francisco Ferry Terminal and the City of Richmond. The new ferry terminal is at the southern point of Ford Peninsula, adjacent to the Ford Building along an existing wharf and approximately 1.5 miles south of the Richmond downtown core.

The centerpiece of the project is the ferry terminal itself consisting of a passenger loading float connected to a passenger shelter/waiting area by a gangway.  The ferry terminal includes security, fare collection, communications and lighting systems.  This terminal is designed to service all the Water Emergency Transportation Authority’s (WETA) ferries as well as emergency vessels.

Associated project work included

• 362 stall parking area,
• Plaza with art installation,
• landscaping/irrigation, park and bay trail improvements,
• signage and lighting.
• sidewalks, crosswalks with bulb outs, curb and gutter

The completed project won architectural awards and an ENR Best Regional Projects award.  In addition, the ferry service Richmond and San Francisco exceeded ridership projections from the first day and continues to exceed them.  A few days after service began, one commenter to the local newspaper is quoted as saying “The Richmond Ferry service has literally changed my life.”