pages: TransportationCommission/2005-10-26.pdf, 5
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TransportationCommission | 2005-10-26 | 5 | Public Comment Closed Commissioner Parker noted that the Alameda/Oakland Ferry Service is currently running at 16% occupancy, and asked why the boats are so much larger than the demand. Staff Sanchez acknowledged that the occupancy load is low, and that the reason is partially historical. The City was able to purchase the Encinal from Blue and Gold Fleet in 1997 at a very good price. The existing boat - the Bay Breeze - could carry only 250 people, so people were being left at the dock. Some runs have much higher capacity than others, especially on weekends during the summer along with certain holidays, so a decision was made to use the larger boats to accommodate these heavier used runs. The smaller boat was sent over to Harbor Bay to run that service. The Water Transit Authority just received bids today to build two 149 passenger boats, and these boats could be available to the City in two years. Commissioner Schatmeier asked if there was any difference operating a big boat to a small boat with crew and operating cost. Staff Sanchez said that the fuel consumption is the biggest cost. Fuel is $2.55 a gallon for diesel now. The Express 2 uses about 52 gallons per operational hour and the Encinal burns 65 gallons per operational hour. Staffing costs are about the same, although an additional deck hand is required if there are more than 200 passengers. Chair Knox White asked if the document is primarily a financial document. Staff Sanchez answered yes. The passenger goals come up in the discussion on maintaining the 40% farebox recovery ratio. Chair Knox White said that he felt it would be helpful to have some information about the number of people who access the ferries via AC Transit. Also, the report says that passengers should pay their "fair share" which suggests that they are not currently doing so. He noted that a goal of the plan is to achieve a significant share of trips, but asked if that goal had been identified. Staff Sanchez indicated that it has not. Chair Knox White noted that the plan states that transit times for ferries should be comparable to other modes, and asked if this is door-to-door or for the transit trip. He said that if it is for the transit trip only, it would also be helpful to include information about door-to-door times. Staff Sanchez responded that this was for the transit trip only. Chair Knox White also noted that the Alameda Oakland Ferry has a significantly higher farebox recovery rate than other ferry services in the region. 5 | TransportationCommission/2005-10-26.pdf |