The eager crowd erupted in cheers and applause as Woodstock approached the dock at Bohol Circle Immigrant Park just after 7:00 AM on Wednesday, July 17. The 45-foot yellow pontoon boat bobbed lightly in the water as the inaugural passengers from Oakland disembarked and made their way up the gangway to grab specially branded rubber ducks, keychains, and other celebratory merchandise. Joining in on the festivities were Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Tony Daysog, Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer, and City staff.
Many who were waiting on the Alameda dock had arrived early for the chance to be on the first trip leaving the West End.
“I’ve been waiting for a water shuttle for many years,” said Betsy M., who bikes frequently to Downtown Oakland, typically across the Park Street Bridge. “I don’t like biking through the Tube, so this will be perfect.”
Charles E., who lives in Alameda Landing, felt a bit anxious about the service bringing new people into the neighborhood. “But it’s more positive than negative,” added Charles, who plans on using Woodstock often to reach the Federal Building in Oakland. “A lot of the neighbors are more excited, especially about exploring the restaurants.”
The Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle (OAWS) is a free, two-year pilot service ferrying riders across the Oakland Estuary between Alameda Landing and Jack London Square. It offers a safe, easy alternative to biking or walking through the harrowing depths of the Posey Tube. The ADA-accessible shuttle—named after the West End neighborhood as well as its resemblance to the Peanuts character—has a capacity of 31 passengers and 14 bikes, and operates Wednesdays through Sundays. For now, no service is provided on Mondays and Tuesdays.
There are three different versions of the shuttle schedule, as hours of operation and departure times vary depending on the day of the week. The shuttle operates 37 daily trips at half-hourly intervals from approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Note that there are gaps in scheduled service during mid-mornings and early afternoons to allow sufficient time for crew breaks and refueling.
More tips for riding the Oakland – Alameda Water Shuttle.
Woodstock began its first passenger run from Alameda at 7:10 a.m. and reached the public dock at the foot of Broadway in just under four minutes. Users found the ride to be fast and straightforward.
“Oh, it was awesome!” exclaimed Rob W., who looks forward to the completion of the Cross Alameda Trail along Clement Avenue, which will deliver a fully separated bicycling experience across the City. “Coming back, it would be a fun way to get home, and a safer way.”
It takes just four minutes for Woodstock to travel between Alameda and Oakland. Video Ken Der.
Passengers hoping to include the shuttle as part of their evening commute, however, were not so lucky. After crews discovered damage above the vessel’s water line, the announcement that service was canceled dampened spirits at the celebratory launch party for the “Little Yellow Ferry,” hosted by local advocacy groups on both sides of the Estuary.
But the news bolstered local leaders and advocates in highlighting this critical connection across the Estuary.
“By having all of us here today, and showing our support, we get to really show that there’s a lot of demand,” climate activist Carter Lavin declared in his address to the crowd.
“It’s advocacy like yours that really puts pressure on City Hall, on government, to work together to make it happen,” added Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “None of this would happen without you all.”
Service was suspended through Thursday but resumed normal operations on Friday morning. Despite its truncated operating schedule, Woodstock still served over 775 passengers and 183 bicycles on its first day.
The OAWS is the result of decades of planning and advocacy efforts. Since 1999, numerous citywide transportation plans have proposed frequent ferry service across the Estuary. A previous bike ferry operated from Mariner Square in 2004 but ended a year later due to “expiration of dock agreement (at Jack London Square), safety concerns from developers, and low ridership,” according to the 2009 Estuary Crossing Study.
The same report assessed 17 different Estuary crossing options and identified a water shuttle as the top medium-term alternative to address growth in West Alameda and Alameda Point, beating out amphibious vehicles, bus and bike barges, and user-propelled boats. Meanwhile, planning for a longer-term, permanent bicycle and pedestrian bridge is underway.
Docks on both sides of the Estuary are bikeable and transit-friendly. AC Transit Line 96 stops on Mitchell Avenue behind Target, offering the closest transit connection to the Alameda Landing dock. Line 19 stops slightly further away on Marina Village Parkway. The City will also launch a free “Island Hopper” weekend shuttle to Alameda Point that will begin service on Saturday, July 27.
Transit connections to Downtown Oakland and destinations along Broadway are available on AC Transit Line 12 and Lines 72/72M/72R, which stop near Broadway at Embarcadero West and Third Street, respectively. The Jack London Square dock is also within walking distance from the Oakland Amtrak Station and the Oakland Ferry Terminal.
Woodstock is operated by the San Francisco Bay Ferry in partnership with the City of Alameda and the Port of Oakland. Funding for the service includes a $1 million grant from the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) and $1.7 million from a partnership between the City, Alameda Transportation Management Association (TMA), and local businesses and associations.
Ken Der is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. Contact him via [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der.
