Off-commute ferry service vital to Tiburon, say officials, riders

Though signs are pointing to an eventual Golden Gate Ferry takeover of Blue & Gold Fleet’s off-commute runs between Tiburon and San Francisco, local government and business leaders say they were blind-sided by the planned pullout by the operator, which then tried to elbow them out of deliberations. Local leaders have expressed concern that losing service to Tiburon could be devastating to already-struggling downtown tourism and business activity worsened by the pandemic, that the existence and proximity of ferry service helped lure high-profile restaurants to Main Street, and that a loss of service would force willing visitors to drive to Tiburon, which would add pollution and congestion to local roads. Exacerbating the latter concern, Blue & Gold’s request to end its San Francisco service to Angel Island would also force those in the city to drive into Tiburon to use the local Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry Co.’s service.

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