This afternoon, I witnessed another positive investment in the City of Vallejo and the former naval base on Mare Island. As Chairman of the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce, I attended the dedication ceremony for the new $28.5 million San Francisco Bay Ferry North Bay Operations Center on Mare Island. The ferry system is operated by the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA).

Also in attendance: Congressman Mike Thompson, WETA Board Chair Jody Breckenridge, WETA Board member Tony Intintoli, Mayor Osby Davis, Council member Pippin Dew-Costa, Council member Rozanna Verder-Aliga, Council member Jess Malgapo, and Council member Bob Sampayan, and Tom Sheaff of Lennar Mare Island.

The new facility includes an administration office, maintenance shops, fueling, and berthing space for 4 ferries. The complex contains a public promenade, passenger ferry service, fuel storage, and a terminal. Passengers will be able to board and depart at the Mare Island terminal. The ferries are berthed at the facility, then travel across Mare Island channel to the Vallejo Ferry terminal en route to the ferry building in downtown San Francisco, and return to Vallejo and the North Bay Operations Center.

The master developer of Mare Island, Lennar Mare Island, constructed improvements including a public waterfront promenade, lighting, benches and a parking lot. This is another important step in the repurposing of Mare Island and the economic growth of our community. Government investment is an important component and incentive for private business to locate on Mare Island.