Public ferry for cars not extinct yet

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published August 15, 2007

MAYPORT - The state's last publicly owned auto ferry has been given a reprieve after the Jacksonville Port Authority decided to take over operation of the 59-year-old boat that makes dozens of daily crossings of the St. Johns River.

The ferry from Mayport to Fort George Island was scheduled to stop service on Oct. 1 after Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a $396,000 subsidy approved by the Legislature.

The Jacksonville Port Authority agreed Monday to run the ferry for at least a year if the City Council approves 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. But a tight city budget made it impossible for the city to keep running the ferry.

Rick Ferrin, the port authority's executive director, said he believes it will take at least two years to stabilize the service to make up the losses.

Fares for cars will be increased from $3.25 to $5 per ride. The port authority also may reduce the hours of operation and discontinue an aging backup ferry.

About 300,000 to 500,000 vehicles each year have used the St. Johns River Ferry, the boat's official name. The ferry began operations in 1948; in 1997, Jacksonville assumed the cost of running the service.

[Last modified August 15, 2007, 00:40:54]