Ferry service from Redwood City to S.F. unlikely for a long time: Roadshow

Q: The Mercury News had an encouraging article about the new terminal and commuter ferry service from Richmond to San Francisco to provide an alternative to the mind-numbing traffic on Interstate 80 to the Bay Bridge. It mentioned existing ferry service from Sausalito, Alameda, Vallejo and Oakland, which several friends have used for commuting over the years and love. But there’s no mention of possible ferry service from the South Bay, to help ease the increasingly bad congestion on I-880 between Oakland and San Jose.

Are there plans from Newark near the Dumbarton Bridge and Highway 84, or Hayward near the San Mateo Bridge and Highway 92, or possibly even Mountain View?

More than 30 years ago I took a Hovercraft from England to France that landed by going up on the beach at full speed (and nearly caused me, in looking out the window, to faint!). Can’t we catch up with the rest of the world?

Peter Ross, San Jose

Like Mr. Roadshow’s Facebook page for more questions and answers about Bay Area roads, freeways and commuting.

A: Officials have identified a Redwood City-San Francisco service as a possible long-term option and there’s no question that there’s a lot of room on the bay for more ferry service. But landside facilities are another matter. And there are only so many boats to be had at $15 million a pop.

The potential terminal would be at the northernmost point of the Port of Redwood City, near the Pacific Shores office complex. But daily ridership for the Redwood City service would be less than 210 by 2035. It lacks employment and residential density in the immediate vicinity of the proposed terminal site.

Q: When are we going to have Tesla-powered ferries running from Alviso, Palo Alto and San Francisco? How much burden could that take off Highway 101, and bring joy to commuters?

Steve Lebus, Cupertino

A: Don’t count on it. There are other transit improvements that will expand South Bay travelers options and have emerged as top regional priorities — the BART extension from Berryessa to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara; Caltrain electrification and Caltrain extension from 4th and King to the Transbay Transit Center.

Q: Are there plans to widen Union City Boulevard from to two to three lanes each way to free up traffic going from I-880 to I-680?

F. Walker, Concord

A: No, due to limited right-of-way and lack of funding.

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Here are the rules for using the express lanes: Roadshow Q: I have an older car and will until my kids are out of college. The paint on my rear license plate is peeling and is now pretty hard to read. Do I have to replace the plate?

Jim Pyle

A: Maybe. State law requires that license plates be clearly legible. If the plate becomes illegible or damaged, you may apply for a new set of plates, using a REG 156 application and paying the replacement costs. Go to www.dmv.ca.gov for that form.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.

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