Ferry Services

Ferry services provide access to inland waterways for many people. There are two free ferries on the Illinois River: The Kampsville ferry connects Illinois Route 108 with Illinois Route 100 near Kampsville, and the Brussels ferry runs one mile west of Grafton across the river to link Illinois Route 100 and Calhoun County near Brussels.

 

Today, there are more than 700 active ferries that can transport vehicles and passengers to Dublin Liverpool. The fleet is comprised of vessels with passenger and vehicle capacities ranging from 600 nautical miles to two cars. Ferry services connect major metropolitan areas on both coasts. Ferries travel the greatest distances, connecting the state's coastal cities.

 

Ferry services must remain competitive to attract and retain riders. They must be efficient, cost-effective, and attract a core group of commuters. In addition, they must be competitive with other modes of transportation. For example, driving into downtown Boston can cost more than a single ferry ticket. In addition, potential passengers will prefer to travel by ferry when they can save time and money. Successful ferry services must have an effective combination of public and private involvement in vessel ownership and operations. They also must make informed decisions about service, maximizing efficiency and minimizing queues. By doing so, they are contributing to transportation resiliency.

 

The Staten Island Ferry is the most popular ferry service in the nation, operating between Staten Island and Manhattan. Staten Island Ferry is a free ferry service that includes selected tour boats and sightseeing boats. In addition, there are several smaller ferries and water taxis in New York City. Several companies also offer services across the East River, connecting lower Manhattan and midtown.

 

There are also several ferry services in Northern Ireland. MV Glenachulish was built in 1969 and is the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world. The turntable platform can be turned sideways to facilitate loading vehicles. In Dartmouth, the Lower Kingswear ferry is a pontoon ferry towed by a small tugboat. It is free and can carry three cars at a time. The journey time is about 20 minutes for vehicles and 45 minutes for passengers.

 

Funding for ferry systems is often provided through other modes of transportation. The Federal Transit Administration has funded ferries in Alaska and Hawaii. The Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) created specific grants for ferry projects. Ferry systems can apply for these grants to build new vessels and improve services.

 

Ferry services are part of the public transportation network of many communities and are a key transportation link. They are a cheaper and more convenient alternative to bridges and highways. The Cross Sound Ferry alone moves approximately 900,000 vehicles and two million people from the I-95 corridor. See this website for more help on Booking to Liverpool.