In the days and weeks following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake , ferry service was hastily restored between San Francisco and the East Bay while the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge was closed for repairs . The popularity of the revived ferries and the need for a robust ferry system in the event that the region 's roads and tunnels become impassable in an emergency ultimately led to the creation of the San Francisco Bay Ferry system . The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority ( WETA ) is a government entity created by the California state legislature in 2007 by Senate Bill 976 . The organization was formerly the '' ' San Francisco Bay Water Transit Authority ' '' ( '' ' WTA ' '' ) , which the legislature established in 1999
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
San Francisco Bay Ferry