OCTOBER 2026

BRIDGE TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT RIDERSHIP UPDATE

Travel in the Golden Gate Corridor by Bridge, Bus, and Ferry remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Thankfully, overall travel in the Golden Gate Corridor continues to trend upward.

In September 2026, southbound Bridge traffic was the same as September 2025 traffic, Bus ridership was 6 percent above September 2025, and Ferry ridership was 20 percent above September 2025.

During the morning commute, southbound Bridge traffic is still down about 23 percent compared to pre-pandemic traffic. Less Bridge traffic results in less toll funding available to operate the District’s bus and ferry service. Accordingly, staff are focused on reducing costs while providing first-class service for travelers in the Golden Gate Corridor.

September 2026 traffic and transit ridership statistics are below:

LARKSPUR FERRY EXPANSION COMMUNITY MEETING NOVEMBER 5

The District is inviting community members, stakeholders, and interested organizations to attend a public meeting at the Larkspur Library on November 5, 2026, to learn about and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for the proposed Larkspur Ferry Service Expansion and Parking Study.

The public meeting will provide an overview of the Draft EIR's environmental analysis, potential impacts, mitigation measures, and project alternatives evaluated under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). District staff and environmental consultants will present key findings and answer questions from attendees.

Public Meeting Details
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Larkspur Library, 10 Rose Lane, Larkspur, CA 94939

The project is being developed to meet projected increases in demand for ferry service from Larkspur to San Francisco through 2050 and to develop transportation and parking solutions that will accommodate significant growth in ridership. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the District was operating at the approved maximum of 42 regular ferry trips per day (approximately 8000 passengers) between Larkspur and San Francisco on weekdays. Terminal parking was frequently filled by early morning, causing passengers to be turned away.

The District currently operates 32 regular trips between Larkspur and San Francisco, however demand for ferry ridership is projected to recover to 2019 levels (pre-pandemic) by approximately 2035 and more than double by 2050, requiring additional ferry trips.

GGB WEEKNIGHT LANE CLOSURES BEGIN FOR SEISMIC CONSTRUCTION

On Monday, October 5, the Golden Gate Bridge began overnight lane closures Monday through Friday from approximately 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. for seismic retrofit construction. The Bridge remains open to vehicles in both northbound and southbound directions at all times. Drivers should expect to slow down around construction zones and may experience delays while the overnight lane closures are in effect.

The overnight lane closures provide safe space for workers to lower temporary access platforms and construction materials underneath the roadway. At least one travel lane remains open in each direction during the lane closures. Similar weeknight lane closures were implemented for prior construction projects on the Golden Gate Bridge, including for earlier phases of the seismic retrofit project and construction of the Suicide Deterrent System.

Work is expected to be completed by 5:00 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and by 7:00 a.m. on Saturdays, at which time all six travel lanes on the Bridge will be opened to vehicle traffic. Staff monitor traffic and weather before implementing the lane closures and cancel work, if necessary. Weeknight lane closures will not occur on holidays.

Traffic control and signage will be in place during all lane closures, and regular traffic alerts will be posted to the Bridge District's website (link). Drivers should plan to slow down and proceed with caution around work areas during the lane closures.

About the Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit
The first three phases of the Golden Gate Bridge seismic retrofit have already been completed, and the Golden Gate Bridge can safely withstand a large earthquake. The final phase of the seismic retrofit, focused on the towers and suspension span, will ensure the Bridge remains operable in the aftermath of a large earthquake and will assist with emergency response in the hours and days that follow. More information about the Golden Gate Seismic Retrofit project can be found here.

EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO

The District celebrated a successful 2026 Health & Wellness Expo on September 30 and October 1, bringing together more than 200 District employees and at least 14 vendors for two days dedicated to health, wellness, and employee benefits.

Hosted by the Benefits Team and Wellness Committee, the Expo provided employees with opportunities to explore valuable resources, connect with wellness professionals, learn about available benefits, and discover ways to support their overall well-being. With engaging exhibitors, helpful information, giveaways, and raffle prizes, the event created an inviting space for employees to prioritize their health and invest in their future.

Thank you to District staff for showing up and to all those who contributed their time, energy, and support to make this event possible.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to the October 2026 Employee of the Month:

Directing Civil Engineer in the District Division, Carolina Wallin!

Carolina is recognized for providing outstanding support to the Seismic Retrofit Project over the past several months, playing a central role in advancing the project and its grant funding through to the obligation stage. She consistently delivered high-quality work on critical components, including the project management plan, financial plan, project schedule, pricing, and other key documents. These efforts were essential to ensure the project could move forward. Her colleagues express their sincere appreciation for her work and share that they are proud to nominate her for Employee of the Month.

Carolina joined the District as a Senior Civil Engineer in 2014 and was promoted to her current position of Directing Civil Engineer in 2025. She was also the Employee of the Month in August 2018. Prior to joining the District, Carolina worked as a Structural Civil Engineer at URS Corporation (formerly United Research Services), in San Francisco. She was born in Tracy and attended California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, where she achieved a Bachelor of Science degree, followed by a Master of Science degree at UC Davis. Carolina has been a resident of Lafayette since 2025, where she lives with her husband, Jesse, and daughter Alexandra. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, doing home improvement projects, and walking the dog.

EMPLOYEES ON THE MOVE

(Thank you to Human Resources for providing this information.)

September Retirements:
Kristy Decoursey - Chief Storekeeper
Wei Liu - Bus Operator
May Mui - Bus Servicer Leader
Michael Schulze - Mechanic Building & Maintenance

October Service Awards:
Jesus Rodriguez - Roadway Services Supervisor - 25 Years
Hung Lam - Bus Mechanic - 25 Years
Manuel Murillo - Apprentice Bridge Painter - 15 Years
Andrew Bianchi - Servicer - 10 Years
Paul Velasquez - Ironworker - 5 Years

BOARD OF DIRECTORS' SEPTEMBER ACTIONS

Staff Reports - Click here and scroll down to read each report

Transportation Committee

Monthly Report on Bridge Traffic, Transit Ridership Trends, and Transit Service Performance

Rules, Policy & Industrial Relations Committee

Governmental Affairs & Public Information Committee

State Update from the District's Legislative Advocates

Finance-Auditing Committee

Upcoming Meetings:

November 19:

Committee Meetings: (9 a.m.) Transportation, Building and Operating, Finance.

November 20:

Committee Meetings: (9 a.m.) Rules, (10 a.m.) Board of Directors.

SEE ALL BOARD MEETING SUMMARIES HERE

NOVEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS

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