Ferry Service

General Description:

Ferry Service is a transit mode comprised of vessels carrying passengers and/or vehicles over a body of water, and that are generally steam or diesel-powered.  There are three general types of ferries in use.  Vehicle ferries have at least one deck for vehicles, with additional decks for passengers.  Passenger-only ferries have only passenger decks, though they may also have space for bicycles.  Water taxis are very small passenger-only ferries (about 50 feet or less) that may operate in both fixed-route and on-demand service, depending on the time of day and patronage levels.

Effects of Solution:

¨ Increase Passenger Throughput

¨ Increase Roadway Capacity

¨ Manage System Efficiency

þ Reduce Local Demand

Ferry Services reduce local demand by offering an alternate route to a destination.

Examples of Implementation:

Water Taxi

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Alford J. Banta

Ferry Service, Water Shuttle Service

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

George Price, NPS, Superintendent Boston Harbor Island National Park Area

Ferry Service

Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island

Diane Dayson, Park Superintendent

Cost/Financial Information:

(Cost/financial information is based on 2005 dollars.  Cost/financial information is estimated, and will vary based on size and scope of project, number of units, etc.)

Typical Capital Costs:		Approximate Cost
	Small water taxis	$250,000 or more
	Large vehicle and passenger-only ferries	$1,000,000 or more

Federal Lands may contract with a private provider for this type of service.

Additional Resources:

Definitions from the American Public Transportation Association website:

http://www.apta.com/research/info/define/

Washington State Department of Transportation, ferry information website:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

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