NEW GOLDEN GATE FERRY SCHEDULES
SAVE
$875,000 ANNUALLY
More High-Speed Trips Offered
On Friday, May 14, 2004, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District) Board of Directors approved a modified Golden Gate Sausalito and Larkspur Ferry schedule for July 1, 2004, that achieves annual savings of $875,000 while preserving nearly the same level of services as presently provided.
New Larkspur Ferry Schedule (effective July 1, 2004)
New Sausalito Ferry Schedule (effective July 1, 2004)
The District is facing a projected five-year $131 million shortfall. Strategies
are currently being developed to both reduce costs and increase revenues.
This cost savings proposal is the first step toward the Ferry Divisions
target of approximately $1.5 million in annual savings.
The proposed schedules for July 1, 2004, were developed through a combination
of public input and operational efficiency considerations. With 1,100
public comments received on the initially proposed schedules in April
2004, staff was able to refine and reconfigure the schedule changes based
on many of the customer preferences expressed. Public outreach included
an onboard survey; an information workshop at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal;
several meetings with the Districts Ferry Passenger Advisory Committee;
and outreach to members of the Sausalito business community.
Approximately $725,000 will be saved when the vessel configuration on
the Larkspur-San Francisco weekday service is modified from the current
3 vessel configuration (2 high-speed catamarans plus 1 Spaulding) to almost
exclusively a 2 high-speed vessel operation; only one round trip will
be made by a Spaulding vesselthe ever-popular 5:20 pm departure
to Larkspur. This configuration preserving 41 of the 42 weekday trips
made today. Larkspur weekend service would be provided using 1 Spaulding
class vessel with minor time adjustments and one less trip.
Another $125,000 will be saved on the Sausalito-San Francisco service
through the use of a Spalding vessel following the March 28, 2004, retirement
of the MV Golden Gate vessel which results in savings from the reduction
in overnight vessel storage lease payments and reduced maintenance costs.
With the exception of minor schedule adjustments, Sausalito weekday service
would be similar to the 18 crossings currently operated and weekend service
would be provided using 1 Spaulding vessel with modest schedule adjustments
and one additional trip.
The costs savings also include staffing level adjustments. During recent
union negotiations, the District acknowledges its appreciation of the
cooperation received from two unionsVessel Masters and Deckhandsin
making difficult decisions that were central to achieving these savings.
As a result of the schedule changes, associated crewing will be reduced
by 1 Vessel Master and 10 Deckhands. The Ferry Division currently employs
14 Vessel Masters and 34 deckhands.
To meet the target of $1.5 million in annual expense savings set for the
Ferry Division, $675,000 in additional proposed cost reduction strategies,
focusing on administrative and land-side functional areas, are now under
consideration for the Ferry Division and will be discussed and finalized
through the annual budget process at the May 27, June 10 and June 24 Finance
and Auditing Committee meetings and the May 28, June 11 and June 25 Board
of Director meetings.