The City posted courtesy notice of three public meetings focusing on the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) draft transition plan. Unfortunately, the draft explicitly states — and confirms an earlier report on the subject — that a ferry terminal in Hercules is not “feasible” in the next five years (emphasis mine)…

To meet its mandate of expansion of water transit services, for both regular commuting and disaster recovery needs, WETA must work not just on implementing those routes and services that are financially feasible in this five year Transition Plan time frame, but also on projects that require planning now in order to be fully developed for implementation beyond the five-year period.

It then lists the future Hercules ferry terminal as one of those projects which means 2014 at the earliest.

There is a running joke in Hercules, that despite evidence to the contrary, Councilmember Ed Balico will state — quite matter-of-factly — that the train station will start construction in August. It doesn’t really matter what year you ask him, construction starts this August. The fact that the intermodal station won’t commence even this year — 2009, when 2005 was the target-date; Balico’s “this August” statement was back in December 2007 — is a true sign of failed leadership. An Amtrak station in 2010 should not be heralded as a success; it should manifest a sigh of relief.

For a long time now, “2012″ has been the sales-pitch from the City (and others) for ferry service to/from San Francisco to become a reality. And now 2014 is the best-case scenario. In my opinion, the ferry terminal trumps the rail station as a “golden ticket” for the long-term viability of New Urbanism in Hercules, and its delay is a cause for concern.

The argument that outside forces altered the project schedule — for either the rail station or ferry terminal — beyond City control is appropriate, but it is also entirely convenient. The City Council cannot take credit for yet-to-be-realized accomplishments (as Balico did in 2007), but then not accept responsibility when those same promises do not materialize. Governing is a two-way street: accolades and accountability.

The draft plan continues with a brief discussion of the future Hercules ferry terminal…

Assuming these projects clear the environmental review process, WETA will continue to look for funding sources for the design, engineering and construction activities associated with each of these projects.

Hercules-San Francisco: WETA has worked cooperatively with the City of Hercules to prepare the necessary environmental documents for this new ferry service. A unique feature of this project is the plan to integrate the ferry terminal with a Capitol Corridor commuter train station (and local feeder bus service) in a new Water Transit Oriented Development (WaTOD) being built at the Hercules waterfront. This service will be partially funded by Contra Costa Measure J transportation sales tax funding, which will be shared with the proposed ferry service between Richmond and San Francisco.

Hercules direct to San Francisco… 2014. I hope.