June
25, 2004
NEW GOLDEN GATE FERRY SCHEDULES
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2004
More High-Speed Trips Offered on Larkspur Route
Golden Gate Sausalito and Larkspur Ferry (GGF) schedules will change on
Thursday, July 1, 2004, and preserving virtually the same level of services
as presently provided. The new July 1 schedules were developed with extensive
public outreach resulting in receipt of 1,100 responses to an aboard survey.
The customer input was used to refine the schedules to best match the
customer preferences expressed. Public input was also received from GGFs
Ferry Passenger Advisory Committee and from members of the Sausalito business
community.
Sausalito
Ferry Schedule
The weekday Larkspur-San Francisco route will be operated almost exclusively
with 2 high-speed catamarans (M.V. Mendocino and M.V. Del Norte) rather
than the current 3 vessel configuration (2 high-speed catamarans plus
1 Spaulding). One high-ridership afternoon return trip to Larkspur, the
5:20 pm will still be made using a high capacity Spaulding vessel. The
new July vessel configuration preserves 41 of the 42 weekday trips made
today. Larkspur weekend service will be operated with 1 Spaulding class
vessel with minor time adjustments and one less trip.
The weekday and weekend Sausalito-San Francisco route will be operated
a Spaulding vessel instead of the now retired M.V. Golden Gate vessel.
With the exception of minor schedule adjustments, Sausalito weekday service
will still operate 18 crossings (same as currently operated) and weekend
service will be provided using 1 Spaulding vessel with minor schedule
adjustments and one additional trip.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
The fare increase, approved by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation
District Board of Directors in May 2004 following a public hearing in
April 2004, comes as one of several key measures implemented to assist
in meeting rising operating costs and in reducing the $131 million five-year
shortfall. The Districts bridge, bus and ferry operations are funded
with four sources: (1) Bridge tolls, (2) Transit fares, (3) government
grants, (4) other sources such as advertising and concessions. Examples
of cost reduction and revenue generation strategies implemented in FY
2002, 2003, and 2004 to reduce fiveyear shortfall from $454 to
$131 million, a 71% reduction: Cost Reductions: Staff reduced by 169 positions
in FY 2003 & 2004; hiring freeze since FY 2002; no salary increases
for two years for 2/3 of employees; bus service reduced by 22%; medical
cost containments. Revenue Enhancements: tolls rose from $3 to $4 for
FasTrak & $3 to $5 cash on Sept. 1, 2002; increased transit fares
on July 1, 2002, 2003 and 2004; expanded Bridge revenue generation programs:
paid-parking program, voluntary donations, annual ornament program, and
new on-line web site gift center.