Mayport Ferry to cease operations on September 30, 2012

[thelakelander]

The Jacksonville Port Authority board voted this morning to stop operating the St. Johns River Ferry on Sept. 30.

The board's action gives ferry supporters seven months to find other money to run the ferry, which crosses daily between Mayport and Heckscher Drive. It will be a daunting task because all levels of government face financial constraints.

Mayor Alvin Brown said the city cannot afford to pick up the tab for the ferry because the city faces a large financial shortfall in the budget year that will start Oct. 1.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-02-27/story/jaxport-board-votes-stop-operating-st-johns-river-ferry-sept-30

[Lunican]

It will be a daunting task because all levels of government face financial constraints.

Except the $550 million just allocated for local roads with more to come.

“Over the next year we are going to be letting an enormous amount of work,” said Greg Evans, the District 2 secretary for the department.

“If you combine several of our largest projects, we will be letting over $550 million in District 2,” he said.

“What we have to do now is replenish the shelf. I want to have a stockpile of projects so that if there is a pot of money then District 2 can tell Tallahassee that we’ll take everything you can send us,” he said.

http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=535756

[thelakelander]

But we got to have roads Lunican.  Perhaps we should paint the Mayport Ferry in asphalt and call it a floating bridge instead of a ferry? 

[exnewsman]

Considerings it connects to portions of A1A - isn't it already a road of sorts.

[JeffreyS]

FDOT should be funding it.

[Jumpinjack]

But we got to have roads Lunican.  Perhaps we should paint the Mayport Ferry in asphalt and call it a floating bridge instead of a ferry? 

I like it!

[Ocklawaha]

Sign the Petition, to save our ferry...

Log in at:
http://www.savethestjohnsriverferry.org/sign.htm

[mtraininjax]

The Ferry needs a bailout!

[Charles Hunter]

"Ferry" and "bailout" are not two words you want in the same sentence.

[mtraininjax]

Sure they are, after all, isn't the ferry using barges that are 50+ years old? Weren't they designed to operate when fuel was under a dollar? Try running the ferry with fuel with a 400% increase in fuel.