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New Water Shuttle ‘Woodstock’ Launches July 17

Free ferry service will connect Alameda and Oakland waterfronts

A new water shuttle service connecting Alameda and Oakland launches July 17, offering a free and sustainable transportation option for commuters and visitors.

Alameda Post - Woodstock the water shuttle next to the SF Bay Ferry
Photo City of Alameda / SF Bay Ferry.

The Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle (OAWS), named MV Woodstock, will carry passengers across the Oakland Estuary Wednesday through Sunday for the next two years. The service will provide 37 daily trips, each taking less than 10 minutes.

The pilot program is a collaborative effort between the City of Alameda, Alameda Transportation Management Association (ATMA), the Port of Oakland, and San Francisco Bay Ferry.



Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft highlighted the shuttle’s benefits, stating, “This pilot program is a public-private partnership designed to help people move easily and sustainably between Alameda and Oakland without driving. Bicyclists and pedestrians can also hop on the shuttle, rather than traveling through the Tube.”

The 45-foot yellow pontoon vessel will operate between public docks at Bohol Circle Immigrant Park in Alameda and Jack London Square in Oakland. The Alameda dock is near grocery stores, shopping at Alameda Landing, parks, and new housing. The Oakland dock is situated in the heart of Jack London Square, a popular shopping and dining destination.

Jim Wunderman, Chair of SF Bay Ferry’s Board of Directors, expressed pride in adding the new service to their network. “This is a great example of communities and partners working together to connect growing job and population centers with new services that will get travelers out of their cars and onto public transit,” he said.

Alameda Post - Woodstock the water shuttle rides into the Oakland Alameda Estuary
Photo City of Alameda SF Bay Ferry.

The OAWS aims to address a long-standing transportation gap between Oakland and Alameda’s west end. Mike O’Hara, ATMA Board Chair, stated, “We are thrilled to find a means to create a pleasant linkage for pedestrians and bicyclists between Oakland and Alameda’s west end. This gap has existed for far too long.”

Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan emphasized the benefits of the new service, saying, ” We are pleased to partner on this new free transit service that connects the Alameda and Oakland waterfronts and allows for enhanced visitor access to Jack London Square. This is a great initiative that will help take vehicles off local roadways and benefit residents in Alameda and Oakland.”

The vessel was purchased by a new limited liability corporation, Big Yellow Boat, from a tour boat operator in Buffalo, New York. It underwent initial maintenance and repairs at Svendsen’s Bay Marine boatyard in Richmond. SF Bay Ferry staff, in consultation with the City of Alameda and ATMA, designed modifications to allow MV Woodstock to comfortably accommodate bikes and people in wheelchairs. The modifications were made by Romero’s Welding in Vallejo.

The first OAWS ride is scheduled to depart from the Oakland dock at 7 a.m. on July 17. The full-service schedule is available online.

Funding for the $2.7 million pilot project comes from various sources. The Alameda County Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District provided $1 million in grant funding. The remaining $1.7 million is contributed by ATMA, West Alameda Transportation Demand Management Association, Port of Oakland, Jack London Improvement District, and the City of Alameda.

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