On June 30, 1952, a ribbon cutting in Anne Arundel County marked the beginning and the end of transportation options between Maryland’s eastern shore and western shore. On that day, the first Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened for vehicular traffic. That same day, a ferry service that had carried 2 million passengers and 1 million vehicles on the Bay since being launched in 1930 ended. Conventional wisdom then was ferry service would never return to the Bay. Now an effort is underway to return ferry service that is very different from that which ended abruptly 72 years ago.
Currently, nine Maryland counties — Queen Anne’s, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Wicomico, Talbot, Kent, and Dorchester plus the City of Annapolis are working with a consultant to study the feasibility of a new passenger-only ferry service on the Bay. Their final report will include recommendations on next steps if the consultant’s feasibility study concludes such a service is viable and sustainable. Below is the current map of potential routes. It is a work in progress. Routes may be added deleted or modified.
With all due respect to the supporters of this concept, I suggest there are two critical issues they need to consider if they have not done so already.
One issue is the ferry vessel under serious consideration for the proposed new service. It is the Candela P-12 all-electric ferry. It sells for approximately $2 million, does not carry vehicles, seats a maximum of 30 passengers, and has limited storage space for carry-ons such as bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs.
This vessel will not be a practical alternative for the huge number of tourists who use Route 50 when going to Ocean City (“downy shore”).
Accordingly, this proposed new ferry service is not likely to generate significant support from eastern shore residents and public officials hoping for a solution to regular summer traffic jams on Route 50.
The second issue is the increasingly limited potential for state funding for this concept.
During the past several weeks in the General Assembly, there have been intense (and yet to be resolved) differences of opinion on how to address structural deficits in the state transportation trust fund and projected structural deficits in the state budget. Those deficits are almost certain to become worse based on the devastating impact on the state economy and state revenues from the tragic collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Securing state funding for the launch and operation of a new ferry service on the Bay is not going to be a high priority in Annapolis in the foreseeable future.
I am not suggesting these are insurmountable obstacles or the only obstacles. I am suggesting they are very serious obstacles that cannot be ignored by the proponents of returning ferry service on the Bay.
One path forward may be securing private investment for this concept from investors with the resources to launch and operate it.
Otherwise, returning ferry service to the Chesapeake Bay may be an interesting idea whose time has not yet come.
David Reel is a public relations and public affairs consultant who lives in Easton.
Al DiCenso says
This is borderline silly. It seems to be intended for day trippers visiting Eastern Shore points. Americans are wedded to their cars, and they therefore would be unhappy with the lack of mobility once reaching their trip’s destination. In my opinion, a high-speed car ferry would take pressure off of the existing bridge for the next 20-25 years until a new span(s) has been completed. After that, the ferry(s) could be diverted to other destinations on the Eastern Shore, still providing relief for the bridge at peak times, and at the same time providing direct transportation to such ports as St. Michaels, Oxford, etc.
Paula Witt says
A ferry coming across to the Eastern shore from the western shore would be a great asset! And yes, I feel there would be a great interest from the Eastern shore. I, for one, I’m sick and tired of having to drive two and a half hours North or two and a half hours south, just to get off of this peninsula.
Kristina Herold says
I completely agree with David Reel’s thoughtful and carefully written commentary on yh “passenger free” ferry from Dorchester to the Western Shore. It is an utterly careless and expensive non- solution to a huge problem for those who actually COMMUTE from the Eastern Shore to all points on the Western Shore on a daily baisis. What on earth are the planners actually thinking – if they are thinking at all? And who exactly would be the commuters – bird watchers?
Jerry McConnell says
Another “nothing burger” from Mr Reel, who apparently feels obligated to produce articles for The Spy out of boredom. Apparently the collapse of the Key Bridge aroused his interest enough to speculate on some out-of-the-blue topics.
There’s actually been no serious planning or consultation going on about any new ferry service across the Bay. There’s been no serious consideration of any passenger-only ferry, except some older, abbreviated discussion about the possibility of something from somewhere in Anne Arundel County to somewhere in Queen Anne’s County, for daily commuters.
The reasons for this are obvious: there’s never been a demand for it, it makes absolutely no financial sense, and it would cost a fortune. So, unless the State of Maryland or the counties involved are willing to subsidize it (which they’re not) it’ll never happen.
No matter what type of ferry you are talking about, nothing works, because other than job commuters, passengers don’t have anywhere to go when they arrive on the Eastern Shore
[not the “eastern shore “, Mr Reel, which you’d know if you lived here].
Ferry terminals and parking lots would have to be built, and passenger-only facilities would require building a mass transit transportation network to deliver them to wherever they’re going. No agency, public or private, will invest this kind of money in a business model that is not viable.
It doesn’t matter what the state, county or local budgets are forecast to look like —nobody’s going to spend a dollar to earn a dime on anything this silly.
Oh, well, the eclipse is coming in a few days and we’re certain it’s going to significantly impact Talbot County, so Mr Reel can relate that exciting story to The Spy.