JPA to take over Mayport Ferry's helm from city

[Lunican]

The Florida Times-Union

August 14, 2007

JPA to take over Mayport Ferry's helm from city

By DREW DIXON,
Shorelines staff writer

The Mayport ferry's 59-year run chugging across the St. Johns River from Mayport to Fort George Island will continue, thanks to the Jacksonville Port Authority, which decided Monday to take over operations from the city for at least another year. The City Council must approve the takeover. The ferry will run a $738,000 deficit on a $1.8 million budget this year, with the city making up the deficit. City funding for the operation expires Oct. 1.

Why did the port decide to keep the ferry running?

Port Authority Chief Financial Officer Ron Baker first proposed taking over the operations in 2005 because he felt it "fit" the port operations that deal with the authority's nautical interests in the river. Baker traveled to Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., to study how the public ferries operate there. He concluded those operations could provide a model for the Mayport ferry.

How long a reprieve has the Port Authority given the ferry?

At least one year. But JPA Executive Director Rick Ferrin said Monday it will take at least two years to stabilize the service and negate losses that cause subsidies.

What changes will you see in the ferry operation?

Higher fares are among the first things that riders of the ferry will notice. Ferrin said the double-axle vehicle fare will be increased from the current rate of $3.25 per ride to $5 per ride by the end of this year. Hours of operation will be reduced. Definite time reductions haven't been fixed, yet. But the new schedule will allow for only a few crossings after dark, Ferrin said.

Who stands to gain the most from the decision to keep it running?

The Port Authority if it can turn the ferry into a profitable revenue stream. But that's long term.

Full Article: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/081407/met_191179790.shtml

[Ocklawaha]

My firm belief is if we REALLY want to keep the ferry (and I certainly do) and the sundry tourism potential of "The Buccaneer Trail" we need to get another ferry. No, there is nothing wrong with the one we currently operate. If we only went to TOURISM HUNGRY GEORGIA for help, I think not only the ferry but the whole of the highway would benefit. Imagine a "Georgia A-1-A" to match Floridas. Allow Georgia to route it however they wanted, but it would probably look something like I-95 to St. Marys. Hence put the old Buccaneer on the run from Georgia at St. Marys ferry landing, downtown. Take the cars on a "cruise" to Fernandina Beach. Bill this like Delmarva does the Bay Highway - bridge - tunnels. Advertise it up and down the coast with a tourism or bed tax. Extend the reach of the highway to include, The Jacksonville Beach Cities, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine, Marineland, Crescent Beach, Flagler Beach and end it at the Main Street Pier in Daytona or at the Ponce Inlet lighthouse park. Speaking of parks, probably no other road in Florida or Georgia would touch as many parks, State and National, as many Seashores, as many historic sites and as many opportunities for us to grab those long needed tourism dollars. Let's not fumble this ball, let's get in this game for real. Work with Georgia, Fernport and any others we need to... as a really great football team says, "WE CAN DO THIS!"

Ocklawaha

[Lunican]

Director says JaxPort will stop operating Mayport ferry

Jacksonville Port Authority Executive Director Paul Anderson said he will ask JaxPort’s board to end the authority’s run as operator of the St. Johns River Ferry.

Anderson said he plans to bring a recommendation to the board “in the next month or two.”

JaxPort has not given a time frame for how long it would continue operating the service.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-01-12/story/director-says-jaxport-will-stop-operating-mayport-ferry#ixzz1jHBn1sWU

[fsujax]

We should have known this wasnt going to last. The Port is not interested in moving people (other than cruises).

[thelakelander]

I don't think anyone should have thought that they were going to make money off the ferry.  It only makes financial sense for JAXPORT if a cruise terminal is built at Mayport. 

[cline]

The ferry should revert back to being funded by FDOT since it is effectively part of a state highway route.  Perhaps JTA would be interested in taking this over.  I doubt it though, since it doesn't involve building a road or bridge.

[fsujax]

Well, if we are talking about moving people and losing money, then the public transit provider should take it over.

[dougskiles]

Would they start calling it FRT (Ferry Rapid Transit)?

[tufsu1]

We should have known this wasnt going to last. The Port is not interested in moving people (other than cruises).

I doubt many entities (JTA included) are interested in losing money.

and I'm with cline...technically, it is part of the SR A1A system...so FDOT should operate/maintain it

[cline]

The ferry transports only 800-1400 cars per day- which is pretty dismal.  Maybe it would be better off if it was discontinued. 

[Tacachale]

Talk of "losing money" is silly with stuff like this. How much do we save doing this instead of building and maintaining a bridge? What is the cost to individual drivers from the Beaches, the Northside, or Fernandina who have to drive all the way out to 9A or downtown to cross the river? At least the ferry has its fares to mitigate the cost somewhat. The Dames Point Bridge doesn't.

[thelakelander]

Nobody wants to burn money, which is something operating the ferry alone will surely do.  For the preservation of its operation, some focus needs to be put into tying it in with a profit making venture.  The cruise terminal was an example of tying a profit making land use that would have generated more riders for the ferry to cut down operational costs.  Mayport will need a replacement for the terminal idea.

[JeffreyS]

I bet if we called it a floating road we could find all the funding it could ever want.

[JeffreyS]

In fact I think we now safely say the JPA is anti-road.

[fsujax]

The Port is not out to run an operation that loses money on its face. JTA runs the public transit and doesn't expect a return back (at least at the fare box), why not add the ferry to that mix? That's all I am saying. Not being negative. I for one do not want the ferry to go away, it is something unique to Jacksonville.