San Francisco Bay Ferry and the City of Alameda announced this month that more than 1 million passengers have now traveled on the Alameda Seaplane ferry route connecting Alameda Point to Downtown San Francisco since the route’s launch on July 1, 2021.
Ridership on the Seaplane route, which operates on weekdays, is the second highest for weekday service on the SF Bay Ferry system, averaging approximately 1,500 riders per day.
“One million riders on the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry is a huge accomplishment,” stated Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft. “Our dedicated ferry riders—the happiest commuters you will find—know that Seaplane offers an unbeatable commute, less than 20 minutes to San Francisco with breathtaking views and bike-friendly access. The City of Alameda looks forward to continuing its strong partnership with WETA to enhance the ferry experience for our residents for years to come.”
Strong ridership on the Alameda Seaplane route is consistent with ridership recovery across all SF Bay Ferry routes. The agency saw a 16% increase in ridership in 2024, with ridership continuing to grow into 2025.
“Connecting communities like Alameda’s West End to San Francisco is a great example of the ferry’s mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable transit across the Bay Area,” said SF Bay Ferry Board Chair Jim Wunderman. “The success of this route is due in large part to the hard work and great coordination with our partners in Alameda.”
The Seaplane route serves the West End and Alameda Point, connecting Alameda residents who are traveling westbound to San Francisco as well as those traveling eastbound to Alameda Point’s many attractions, including Spirits Alley, Radium Runway Performing Arts Center, and Alameda Point Waterfront Park. The ferry leaves Alameda as early as 6:30 a.m. and returns from San Francisco as late as 10:20 p.m. every weekday.
SF Bay Ferry operates two other ferry terminals in Alameda, one at Main Street and the other at Harbor Bay on Bay Farm Isle. SF Bay Ferry also operates the Oakland-Alameda Water Shuttle across the estuary, a pilot service connecting Alameda Landing to Oakland’s Jack London Square.
The Alameda Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal opened in 2021. Its construction was funded by the Alameda County Transportation Commission, Alameda Point Partners, the City of Alameda and SF Bay Ferry.
