Marina Gets Grant to Launch Ferry Service

A private marina will reportedly receive $20 million in federal money to launch a ferry service from Sonoma County to San Francisco and Oakland, SignonSanDiego.com reported The money went to North Bay Ferry Service of Larkspur, which is owned by Skip Berg, a former owner of Infineon Raceway who also owns the Port Sonoma marina. The port sits on the Petaluma River at the Sonoma and Napa County lines, near the race track.

None of the major transportation agencies in the area were made aware of the grant, including the Bay Area Water Transit Authority, which is developing a comprehensive ferry system for the region.

The project still needs to clear other hurdles, as apparently other ferry service plans from Port Sonoma have been declined due to environmental concerns. If the project proceeds as planned, it should launch in 2009 or 2010. (Source: Source: SignonSanDiego.com)