Treasure Island Project

The development plans for Treasure Island/Yerba Buena Island include up to 8,000 new homes (30% offered at below-market rates), up to 500 hotel rooms, a 400-slip marina, restaurants, retail and entertainment venues, and a brand new, world class 300-acre park system. The compact mixed-use transit-oriented development is clustered around a new ferry/intermodal center and is designed to prioritize walking, biking and public transit.

Treasure Island’s location midway between mainland San Francisco and Oakland is near the geographic center of the San Francisco Bay Area and provides spectacular views.  Treasure Island was originally constructed alongside natural Yerba Buena Island for an airfield and world’s fair site.  It served for decades as a naval station until 1997.  After extensive planning for its reuse and environmental remediation by the Navy, the Development Agreement was approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2011.

The planned transportation network includes:

• Extensive ferry service to the San Francisco mainland
• A major increase in service on the existing Muni 25 bus line to the Transbay Terminal, with a new branch planned to the Civic Center
• AC Transit service to Oakland and BART
• On-island shuttle bus system
• Extensive bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including 10 miles of new dedicated bicycle trails and four miles of pedestrian trails, plus bicycle sharing and pedestrian priority streets

The land use pattern and transportation demand management (TDM) program will support sustainable transportation patterns.  Some 90 percent of residents will have a less than a 15-minute walk to the transit hub and town center.  Bicycle parking and electric vehicle charging will be provided.  The TDM program includes congestion pricing and ramp metering at the Bay Bridge, market-rate parking, subsidized transit passes (“EcoPass”) for residents, car and bike sharing programs, and carpool and vanpool matching.

GOALS AND POTENTIAL BENEFITS

The project supports the SFMTA Strategic Plan goals and City policies and initiatives including:

• TRANSIT FIRST policy and WALK FIRST priorities
• Muni Forward
• Better Streets Plan, and
• San Francisco Bicycle Plan

The Treasure Island project aims to provide a community that can serve as a model of sustainable development and transportation.  The developer will pay a transit subsidy if less than 51 percent of work trips are made by transit.  Potential benefits include:

• Expanded housing and employment opportunities, including permanent and construction jobs
• Improved transit connections in an area with limited transit service today
• A walkable and bikeable community
• Tax revenues supporting expanded services

The SFMTA  and project partners will provide a comprehensive, sustainable transportation system  to support new housing and employment, including:

• Extensive ferry and bus transit service connecting to the San Francisco mainland and Oakland
• A comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle network, with 90 percent of residents within a 15-minute walk of the intermodal hub and town center
• Congestion pricing to encourage and fund transit trips
• Subsidized transit passes for residents and other TDM measures

FUNDING

The proposed transportation improvements are funded by private development, with supportive efforts by the responsible public agencies to secure additional federal and local grants.  Development is expected to fully fund construction costs and to contribute toward rolling stock.  Operating costs should be covered fully by transit pass/farebox revenues, congestion pricing fees and parking revenues.

OUR PARTNERS

SFMTA leads in the coordination, analysis and implementation strategy of the proposed bus transit service to San Francisco, as well as the general on-island automobile, bicycle and pedestrian transportation network, partnering with San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development and TIDA.  The Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency will oversee the implementation of a comprehensive transportation demand management program