Project is designed to shape vibrant East Bay waterfront
Media Contact: LCI.press@lci.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO (9/16/2026) — Governor Gavin Newsom today certified the Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry project using the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) judicial streamlining process, a major step toward transforming the site of a crumbling pier into a clean and vibrant transit and recreation hub. The project promises to provide efficient and environmentally-friendly ferry service between Berkeley and San Francisco, unlocking an array of public activities and connectivity along the East Bay waterfront.
“California is moving full speed ahead on our clean transportation future, even as the federal government clings to 19th-century polluting technologies. Berkeley’s new ferry pier will host a zero-emission ferry that cuts pollution, cuts health costs, saves families money, and spares commuters the headache of sitting in traffic,” said Governor Newsom. “We’re the fourth largest economy in the world, and we’re not going to stop building the economy of the future that brings good-paying jobs to our shores and cuts costs. Meanwhile, House Republicans just voted twice to try to stop California’s efforts to clean up boats and ships in California — a giveaway to Big Oil while Americans pay more for gas, diesel, back-to-school clothes, groceries, and more thanks to Trump’s disastrous Iran war.”
Sponsored by the City of Berkeley, the project will demolish portions of the Berkeley Marina pier – which was closed in 2015 due to structural issues – and build a new 1,080-foot public pier with pedestrian access and recreational amenities in its place. The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority would operate a zero-emission passenger ferry service, carrying workers and visitors across the bay, which in turn will foster economic growth and reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions.
“This project shows what’s possible when multiple benefits work in sync to create something exceptional to meet community needs for a healthier environment and greater resilience to a changing climate,” said Samuel Assefa, Director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI). “The CEQA judicial streamlining certification is a demonstration of California’s innovative approach to delivering needed infrastructure more expeditiously while protecting resources.”
About the Project
The Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry is planned at the Berkeley Waterfront along the San Francisco Bay and will replace the existing defunct pier with a new dual-purpose pier that supports public recreation and a zero-emission ferry service. The new pier would include recreational amenities, such as a public plaza, benches, educational signage, shade structures, and a fish cleaning station. The city is also adding climate resiliency and minimizing environmental impacts by considering existing infrastructure and sea level rise projections and building a breakwater to absorb the force of sea waves. The project will include upgraded bus infrastructure, and the site will be connected to trail spurs for walking and biking.
Key community and environmental benefits include:
- Enhanced public access and recreational opportunities at the Berkeley Waterfront: The new pier will maximize public access to the bay; reduce environmental impacts by encouraging use of public transit and biking; and, with the installation of chargers, support use of electric vehicles in the area. This will improve regional connectivity and resiliency.
- Provide efficient, zero-emission electric ferry service: The ferry will provide clean public transportation choices to workers, residents, and visitors traveling across the bay, encouraging reduction of single-occupancy vehicles for transbay trips, cutting greenhouse gas and air quality emissions and decreasing congestion on the regional roadway system, consistent with regional and state goals. Travel time and costs are predicted to be competitive with other transbay modes of travel.
- Site amenities and upgrades: Addition of a public plaza, with restrooms, benches, and bike parking, road and parking lot renovations, along with landscaping and connections to trails will boost use by residents and visitors. Project sponsors are exploring placing solar panels in the renovated parking lot, recreational access to the bay, including non-motorized watercraft, and park renovations.
What Certification Means
Governor Newsom’s certification under CEQA’s judicial streamlining process means the Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry project will benefit from expedited judicial review should its Environmental Impact Report face legal challenges, ensuring that this key infrastructure initiative can move forward swiftly while adhering to robust environmental standards.
This project reflects California’s broader commitment to climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure and equitable community investment — goals championed by the Newsom administration, LCI, and its partners across state and local government.
About LCI
The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) oversees and administers programs, policies, and initiatives that chart California’s future through bold ideas, proven implementation, and scale. LCI’s leadership is provided by the Director, who is the principal advisor to the Governor on all matters relating to the programs and investments under LCI’s umbrella. LCI also provides ongoing operational support for the California Strategic Growth Council and the California Racial Equity Commission, with its Director acting as Chair of the Council.