Berkeley Pier with Ferry Access Project

The City of Berkeley has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry and is requesting comments on the Draft EIR. The Draft EIR addresses the potential physical environmental effects of the project for each of the environmental topics included in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Appendix G. 

The public comment period for the Draft EIR will begin on February 27, 2026 and end on April 13, 2026 (a 45-day public review period). Comments may be submitted by mail or email by 5:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026. Please include the name of the contact person and contact information for your agency or organization, and direct your comments to:

Liza McNulty, PE, Project Manager  
Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department  
2180 Milvia Street, 3rd Floor  
Berkeley, CA 94704  
Email: lmcnulty@berkeleyca.gov

The City of Berkeley will hold a virtual public meeting on Monday, March 16, 2026, to receive comments on the Draft EIR. The meeting will start at 6:00 PM and will be held via video and teleconference.

Draft Environmental Impact Report Documents

• Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry Project DEIR Notice of Availability 
• Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry Project Notice of Completion 
• Draft Water Transportation Berkeley Pier Ferry Environmental Impact Report 
• Draft Water Transportation Berkeley Pier Ferry EIR Appendix Volume 1 
• Draft Water Transportation Berkeley Pier Ferry EIR Appendix Volume 2 

The Administrative Record for this project is available to view online. The Draft EIR incorporates by reference the Final Program Environmental Impact Report for the Expansion of Ferry Transit Service in the San Francisco Bay Area (WETA Program EIR, 2003).

Public Engagement Process

The project was initially presented at the City Council Work Session on February 16, 2021, followed by a WETA Board of Directors meeting on March 4, 2021.

The Pier and Ferry Feasibility Study gathered extensive community feedback through four focus groups in early January 2021 and three large community workshops on January 21, August 10, and October 27, 2021. An online questionnaire for the project was conducted from March 22 to June 6, 2021. 

The community feedback was used to develop a preferred concept for the project. The preferred concept was presented to the City Council in December 2021 and the WETA Board in April 2022.

Reports, presentation slides, and other documents related to the public engagement process can be found below under "Project History."

The project is currently in the Design/Environmental phase. The City presented project updates to City Council members, the WETA Board, and to over a dozen local community groups as part of the public engagement process of this phase. Additional public outreach and public meetings will occur throughout this phase of the project.

On March 12, 2025, the City provided a detailed update on parking and transportation demand management to the Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Commission. On May 5, 2025, the City hosted an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Scoping meeting that invited the public provide feedback on the scope of the environmental review.

The Draft EIR was published on February 27, 2026. The public review period will be open for 45 days, from February 27 to April 13, 2026. The Draft EIR documents can be found in the section above. 

• Pier-Ferry Public Outreach Summary

Consultant Team

• COWI – Prime Design Consultant, Structural, Coastal
• NCE – Civil Engineer
• CDM Smith – Civil Engineer
• Robin Chiang – Architecture
• ENGEO – Geotechnical
• YEI – Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineer
• Aurora – Electrification (waterside)
• Arup – Electrification (landside)
• ETrac – Topographic and Hydrographic Surveys
• Pacific EcoRisk – Sediment Sampling and Dredge Disposal
• Herbert – Naval Architecture
• BK Cooper – Cost Estimating
• Rincon – Prime Environmental Consultant, CEQA, Permitting
• Kittleson – Parking and Transportation
• WRA – Regulatory Permitting, Biological Resources
• Brad McCrea – BCDC Permitting

Project History

Design & Environmental Phase (In Progress)

The project is currently in the Design/Environmental phase. The City is collaborating with WETA on the detailed design, environmental analysis, and permitting for the project. 

In 2023, the Alameda County Transportation Commission and the California State Coastal Conservancy awarded the City grant funding to complete the Design/Environmental phase of the project. In 2024, the City and WETA amended the MOU to cover the current Design/Environmental phase. WETA has also allocated funds for this phase. This work is underway and is expected to be completed in 2027.

The City presented project updates to City Council members, the WETA Board, and to over a dozen local community groups as part of the public engagement process of this phase. 

Documents:

• Amendment of the MOU between City of Berkeley and WETA
• Water Transportation Pier-Ferry Project Parking and TDM Plan, March 2025, Final Draft
• NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT & EIR SCOPING MEETING, MAY 2025
• PARKING & TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PRESENTATION TO PRW COMMISSION MARCH, 2025
• Draft Water Transportation Pier-Ferry Project Parking and TDM Plan Addendum

Feasibility Phase (Complete)

The City has completed the Pier and Ferry Feasibility Study, which evaluated the feasibility of rebuilding the Berkeley Municipal Pier as a dual-purpose pier that provides recreational access and an electric ferry service. The study was funded by the City of Berkeley through Measure T1 and by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA). 

The study included over a year of public process that resulted in a preferred project concept, which was presented to the Berkeley City Council in December 2021 and the WETA Board in April 2022.

The Pier and Ferry Feasibility Study gathered extensive community feedback through four focus groups in early January 2021 and three large community workshops on January 21, August 10, and October 27, 2021. An online questionnaire for the project was conducted from March 22 to June 6, 2021. 

The community feedback was used to develop a preferred concept for the project. The preferred concept was presented to the City Council in December 2021 and the WETA Board in April 2022.

Reports, presentation slides, and other documents related to the public engagement process can be found below.

Documents:

• Berkeley Municipal Pier Study Project Summary
• Ferry Terminal Facility Feasibility Study - Berkeley Municipal Pier
• Pier-Ferry Community Feedback
• Pier-Ferry Council Report - Approval of WETA and City Council MOU
• Pier-Ferry Council Work Session Report of the Preferred Concept
• Pier-Ferry Questionnaire #1 Results Summary, October 2021
• Pier-Ferry Study FAQ

Pier Closure and Background Information

The Berkeley Municipal Pier was closed in July 2015 due to structural problems on the underside of the concrete decking and pilings. In 2017, the City retained structural engineering firm GHD to assess the problem and develop a range of potential solutions and cost estimates. 

In 2018, WETA staff initiated discussions with City staff about the possibility of a new ferry service at the Berkeley Waterfront. In 2019, WETA and the City Council authorized a Memorandum of Understanding Agreement (MOU) to jointly fund a planning study on the feasibility of rebuilding the Berkeley Pier for ferry service and recreational access. 

Documents:

• Berkeley Pier Structural Assessment Final
• Municipal Pier Renovation Alternatives
• Sea Level Rise Assessment Study
• Small-scale Ferry Feasibility Study