Alameda Ferry Riders Face New Parking, Access and Bus Changes This Week

Alameda ferry riders are dealing with three separate access developments this week: Harbor Bay’s bus-stop and ferry-terminal accessibility project is complete, paid parking and dedicated security are active at Harbor Bay and Seaplane Lagoon on selected days, and AC Transit’s redesigned bus network takes effect Monday, August 10.

The developments affect the Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal and Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal differently. Riders should separate the completed Harbor Bay construction from the current parking program and the upcoming bus changes.

Harbor Bay accessibility work is complete

The City of Alameda says the Harbor Bay Bus Stops and Ferry Terminal Improvements project is complete. Construction in the ferry-terminal parking lot was substantially completed in August 2025, and construction of new bus shelters was substantially completed in January 2026.

The project upgraded bus shelters and signage and brought the ferry-terminal parking lot up to current accessibility requirements. For riders, the practical takeaway is that Harbor Bay should not be treated as an active major construction site, although normal terminal activity and any posted site instructions still apply.

Midweek parking costs $3 per day

Paid parking is in effect Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at both Harbor Bay and Seaplane Lagoon. The City lists the rate as $3 per day, or $0.75 per hour, during a 10-hour paid window from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Riders can pay through the ParkSmarter app, by text or at a pay station. The City says mobile payments carry a $0.35 transaction fee. Its guidance also says riders may use mobile payment after boarding the ferry, which can be useful during a busy departure.

The paid-parking schedule is limited to Tuesday through Thursday; the City does not describe the $3 charge as a seven-day fee. Drivers should park only in designated spaces and check posted signs, particularly around Harbor Bay, where nearby neighborhood streets are subject to preferential-parking rules and time limits for vehicles without permits.

Dedicated security is also active at both terminals. The City says security began at Harbor Bay in 2025 and launched at Seaplane Lagoon with the midweek paid-parking program on February 3, 2026. At Harbor Bay, an on-site guard patrols the terminal; at Seaplane Lagoon, the City says an on-site guard serves Seaplane Lagoon and Main Street ferry terminals.

AC Transit changes arrive August 10

AC Transit’s Realign network is scheduled to go live Monday, August 10. The changes are not yet effective on August 5, so riders should check the future route and schedule before their first trip after the launch.

AC Transit’s Alameda-area changes include new Line 31, formerly Line 21, which will serve Park Street in Alameda and Bay Farm Island. The agency also lists schedule changes for several Alameda-area lines, including Line O, whose weekday service will continue every 30 minutes while weekend frequency decreases to every 60 minutes.

For riders connecting to Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal by bus, AC Transit’s service-change chart and trip planner are the best places to confirm the post-August 10 route, stop pattern and timetable. The draft network information identifies Alameda route changes, but riders should not assume that a current Harbor Bay connection will operate under the same line number or schedule after Realign begins.

Bay Farm Island riders will see a separate Transbay change. AC Transit says Transbay Line OX will be eliminated and Line W will provide the alternative Bay Farm Island service. The new Line W routing will serve Bay Farm Island via Island Drive, Robert Davey Jr. Drive, Aughinbaugh Way and Mecartney Road.

What Alameda riders should do

• Harbor Bay riders: Expect the major accessibility project to be complete, with parking-lot construction substantially completed in August 2025 and bus-shelter construction substantially completed in January 2026.
• Drivers at Harbor Bay or Seaplane Lagoon: On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, plan for $3 daily parking, or $0.75 per hour, during the 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. paid window.
• Drivers paying by phone: Use the ParkSmarter app or text-payment option, or pay at a station; mobile payments carry a $0.35 transaction fee.
• Bay Farm Island residents: Review Line W information before August 10 if you previously used Transbay Line OX.
• Bus riders to Harbor Bay: Check AC Transit’s post-August 10 route, stop and schedule information before traveling.

The practical picture is a transition rather than one single construction or transit event: Harbor Bay’s accessibility improvements are complete, terminal parking and security operations are active on a limited weekly schedule, and AC Transit’s Alameda network changes remain upcoming until Monday, August 10.

Sources

• Harbor Bay Bus Stops and Ferry Terminal Improvements — City of Alameda
• Realign Service Changes — AC Transit