“Our bus ridership is down about 90%, ferry ridership is down about 99%, bridge traffic is down about 70%,” said Golden Gate Bridge District General Manager Denis Mulligan.
According to Mulligan, as a result, combined revenues from bridge tolls and transit fares are down 76%. Despite the declines, the district still is running ferries and buses on adjusted schedules, and safety protocols have been put into place.
“Masks have been determined to be mandatory, so we’re requiring masks to ride our buses and ride our ferries,” said Mulligan, “we’ve installed sneeze guards on all of our buses [and> we have instituted maximum passenger loading on our buses.”
Personal protective equipment is available for District employees, and Golden Gate Transit buses also are picking up and dropping off some San Francisco passengers who normally would take MUNI buses that have been suspended due to the pandemic.
“We’ve done a lot, operationally, to keep moving during these trying times, but to keep them moving safely.” said Mulligan.
The District also learned this week that it will be getting millions of dollars in federal coronavirus relief money.
Earlier this week, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission allocated $30.2 million in federal relief money to the Golden Gate Bridge District, welcome news according to Mulligan.
“[the money> will help offset revenues lost in fares and the portion of tolls that we use to fund transit, as well as the additional cost to clean and disinfect vehicles,” said Mulligan.
He said service adjustments may be made after the economy reopens depending on traffic and ridership patterns.