The Transportation Authority of Marin board is scheduled to hear a presentation Nov. 19 on a plan to raise the daily service limit for Larkspur ferry trips to San Francisco and build parking garages that TAM staff say could worsen Highway 101 traffic and conflict with regional housing goals.

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District released a draft environmental impact report on Oct. 19 for its Larkspur Ferry Service Expansion and Parking Study. The project would allow service to grow from the approved limit of 42 daily crossings to as many as 76 through 2050, depending on demand and funding. It also proposes new parking structures at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.

San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin serves on the TAM board as San Rafael’s representative.

What the plan includes

According to the TAM meeting materials, the environmental report evaluates two construction alternatives alongside a no-project alternative. Both construction options would place new parking garages on the terminal’s main lot and its current overflow lot.

Alternative 1 would build an 850-space garage on the North Lot, followed by a 3,998-space garage on the Main Lot. That would add a net 2,825 parking spaces.

Alternative 2 would pair the same 850-space North Lot garage with a smaller, 3,258-space Main Lot garage and add transit and parking-demand management measures. It would add a net 2,085 spaces.

A memo from TAM Executive Director Anne Richman and Director of Planning Derek McGill compares Alternative 1’s added parking with Northgate Mall’s 2,908 spaces in San Rafael. Alternative 2’s addition would be roughly equivalent to parking at two Kaiser Permanente Northgate campuses, according to the memo.

Staff flags traffic and housing concerns

TAM staff wrote that they “strongly support” increased ferry service and larger catamarans that meet state emissions standards. Their concerns focus on the parking elements.

The environmental report identifies significant, unavoidable traffic safety impacts, including longer vehicle queues on the southbound Highway 101 off-ramp to East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Several intersections along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard are projected to operate at the poorest traffic service level even without the project.

TAM staff also argue that the parking structures conflict with the intent of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Transit-Oriented Communities policy and Plan Bay Area 2050+ strategies. The memo raises concerns that garages would limit opportunities for future housing at the terminal.

An alternative without more parking

The environmental report discusses an option to expand ferry service without adding parking but does not evaluate it as a full project alternative. That option would accommodate up to 14,000 daily passengers by 2050, compared with 17,600 under the two construction alternatives.

The report’s alternatives analysis says the option would not fully meet the project’s objectives, including accommodating projected passenger demand.

According to TAM’s memo, the option would produce the highest share of passengers arriving by transit, walking or biking and the lowest vehicle miles traveled in 2035. By 2050, however, its projected vehicle miles traveled would be slightly higher than under Alternative 2.

Ridership context

TAM’s memo compares approximately 3,600 daily passengers with about 6,348 in 2019, before the pandemic. Project forecasts anticipate 7,500 daily passengers by 2035 and up to 17,600 by 2050.

Those forecasts are planning estimates, rather than guaranteed ridership.

How to weigh in

The district’s current project page lists Dec. 7 as the deadline to comment on the draft environmental report. Comments can be emailed to [email protected].

TAM staff plan to collect board members’ comments and submit a formal letter to the district. The project timeline anticipates consideration of a final environmental report for certification in early 2027.

The Nov. 19 TAM board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Marin County Civic Center, Room 330, 3501 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. Participation will also be available through Zoom.