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Ferry Ridership Tripled During First Day of BART Strike

ALAMEDA (KCBS) — Along with shuttle buses, ferry service saw high ridership as well as commuters looked for options to get around during the BART strike.

Lines were long at the Alameda Ferry Terminal as ferry ridership tripled Monday from 6,000 to 18,000 passengers. Those figures could be the same on Tuesday.

11 boats were running instead of the usual eight, plus one that is on loan from Golden Gate Ferry on an emergency agreement.

Patrick Murphy, director of operations for the Blue & Gold Fleet said they had to manage traffic trouble on the water during the early part of the commute.

"The larger ships, the container ships came in this morning and they turned in the estuary and blocked traffic while they go back to their dock."

Ferry Ridership Tripled During First Day of BART Strike

Murphy said that maneuvering put them behind schedule for a while.

The parking lots were completely filled by 6:45 a.m. Cars lined the weeds along Main Street as they approached the terminal.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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