Lack of funding threatens Mayport ferry again
By Kathleen Bailey, Community Newspapers
The Mayport ferry may cease operations if the Jacksonville Port Authority Board agrees with its CEO that JaxPort could better spend money currently used to subsidize the ferry. A decision could come as soon as next month.
But proponents of the ferry that links A1A between Mayport village and Heckscher Drive are mobilizing to find other financial sources to subsidize the ferry.
State Rep. Janet Adkins scheduled a meeting Tuesday in Tallahassee to gather information on what can be done to keep the St. Johns River ferry operating.
"The St. Johns River Ferry is not only a fundamental link in the Florida state highway system, it is a critical component to the economic health and vitality of the region," said Adkins. "The ferry is an important transportation entity that affects citizens and visitors to Duval, Nassau and St. Johns Counties."
The St. Johns River Ferry has been in operation since 1948. It provides access to the public and runs from Mayport Village to Fort George Island. Residents of Amelia Island and the Jacksonville beaches rely on access to the ferry in order to avoid an extra 20 miles of travel to their daily commute, Adkins said in a press release. The ferry is also a popular form of transportation for tourists visiting the area.
JaxPort CEO Paul Anderson has recommended to his board that it stop operating the ferry, which is the state's last public auto ferry.
State Sen. John Thrasher, whose district includes Mayport Village, said that Anderson told him during a meeting in Tallahassee that money used to subsidize ferry operations could be better spent to boost the cargo business and create jobs.
"It's problematic in terms of the costs being incurred by the port," Thrasher said. "He (Anderson) is very concerned obviously about cost and the implications that has on the port and its mission.
"But there's still room for discussion and if there's an option to do it, maybe we can find it," Thrasher said. "It's worth exploring to see if (the state Department of Transportation) has any hope they can help out, otherwise the city's going to have to take a look and see its position on it."
Nancy Rubin, communications director for JaxPort, said JaxPort is looking to concentrate its resources on the cargo business.
"We're not saying we don't love the ferry and we are aware people rely on the service," Rubin said, explaining that when JaxPort agreed to take over ferry operations it was with the understanding that it did not want ferry operations to interfere with the port's core business.
The state originally supported the ferry since A1A is a state highway, but the city of Jacksonville took over responsibility after state funding was axed. Jacksonville balked at the costs involved in running the ferry and JaxPort took over ferry operations in 2007.
Since then, however, port officials said ridership has fallen and costs have risen, so that the Port Authority is spending $600,000 or more annually to cover costs.
Rubin said engineers "conservatively" estimate the ferry will require $12 million be spent over the next 10 years on capital costs. The most immediate project, a redo of pilings, will cost $2.3 million, while Jaxport has only $800,000 budgeted for the work, Rubin said.
"We were a community partner and in 2007 times were good. Things were significantly different then," Rubin said. "This has always been a question - Is this (the ferry) the highest and best use of our scarce public resources?"
Ridership during the 2011 fiscal year was reported as 230,331 riders. Pedestrians are charged $1 per ride, while two-axle cars are charged $5. The ferry runs from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with the ferry departing Mayport village on the hour and half hour.
Rubin also said property in Mayport Village that was conveyed to the Jacksonville Port Authority - including some of the land for a proposed cruise ship terminal - could all be returned to the city of Jacksonville.
Return of the parcel that has been part of the site for a cruise ship terminal may be possible because a new cruise ship terminal is not in the port's immediate future.
Rubin said current cruise ship operations could continue using the current terminal site, located west of the Dames Point Bridge. The terminal property was to have been used by the Hanjin Corp., but a dormant economy has delayed those plans, she said.
Story created Jan 26, 2012 - 10:22:55 PST.
|
