Already on the Spy record for favoring a third Chesapeake Bay Bridge span configured for rapid transit—despite the astronomical cost—I was fascinated recently by a Baltimore Sun column written by Dan Rodricks. He proposed consideration of ferries.
Some might recall when ferries provided the only means of transportation for passengers and vehicles between the Eastern and Western shores. Before completion of the first 4.3-mile span in 1952. The second opened in 1973.
Now, Rodricks, who typically focuses only on the City of Baltimore and its woes and charms, went further afloat in this instance. He likely understood that the use of ferries to cross the Chesapeake Bay might prompt some chortling. Nonetheless, his premise deserves sunlight and discussion.
Frankly, I thought that ferries had limited utility. That is, this type of transit caters to a small, though constant group of passengers, such as Oxford to Bellevue in Talbot County, Lewis, DE to Cape May, NJ, Ocracoke to Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, Seattle to Bainbridge Island in Washington State and Long Island, NY to New London, CT.
But we (this writer and readers) must be open-minded. The crossing of the Chesapeake Bay requires creativity. A third span, perhaps inevitable, is not carved in stone. At least $10 billion, if not more, would be necessary; that’s enormous at a time when major public works projects are scarce without an infusion of private investment, or federal money.
Okay, allow me to cite Rodricks’ words of advocacy. Be circumspect in appraising his argument:
“The governor should take a serious look at ferries. And not noisy, diesel-powered carbon-emitting ferries, but quiet, clean, battery-powered ferries. We could have a whole fleet of them deployed up and down the bay over the next decade, taking people, cars, trucks and dogs between any of many feasible points—from Baltimore to Rock Hall, from Sparrows Point to Tolchester, from Edgewater to Romancoke from Edgewood to Betterton, from Chesapeake Beach to Cambridge.”
Rodricks wrote, “Before the bridges, ferries took Marylanders across the bay. They could again. As we move away from fossil fuel and develop new sources of electricity, a 21st century ferry system would leave a light mark on the environment, provide more (and pleasant) route options for travelers, and relieve some of the congestion on the Route 50 bridges.”
Rodricks pointed to the world’s first battery-powered, zero emissions ferry launched in Norway in early 2015. It can transport up to 120 cars and 300 passengers on a 262-foot long vessel. It travels the 3.5-mile route across Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, between the villages of Lavik and Opperdel, up to 38 times a day.
This ferry takes 20 minutes to cross and then spends 10 minutes at the dock unloading, loading and recharging its batteries.
Since August, a 600-passenger excursion ship, powered by a lithium-ion battery, with a diesel backup engine, has been operating in San Francisco Bay. It is owned by the Red and White Fleet.
Putting cost and logistics aside, I believe that use of environmentally clean and efficient ferries warrants open-eyed consideration by Gov. Larry Hogan and the Maryland Transportation Authority. Maybe ferries would negate the need for a third span. They would reduce harmful carbon emissions. Passengers would enjoy the Bay views.
Norway may provide an innovative approach for relieving awful congestion on our two Bay Bridge spans. Discussion of a third span could become moot.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.
Mark Behm says
Another advantage of the ferries is hat they only need to operate at peak traffic times at the bridge; morning and evening rush hours, and summer weekends. This might equate to 15 % of the seven day week. Reduced time in use, combined with significantly reduced construction and maintenance costs should result in a much cheaper solution. And several different ferries loading and unloading at several different locations should reduce bottlenecks on route 50. Of course, a higher toll should be charged at peak times to encourage spreading the peak demand to off hours.
Willard Engelskirchen says
I agree. I especially like the idea of diffusing the traffic to other areas in some small way.
Kathy Bosin says
I love the ferry idea! I’m reminded of the Washington State ferries that go around the San Juan islands, etc. We had a great 2 weeks there using ferries alone. One question is – how would foot passengers transport themselves to their final destination once they arrive on the Eastern Shore? Need some trains or something. Or dozens of Ubers at every stop – jobs jobs jobs for the Shore?
jan bohn says
I grew up in New Jersey and my father commuted to New York City across the Hudson River by ferry in the 50’s and 60’s. There were car and passenger ferries. Today the passenger ferries across the Hudson are a delight (and, of course, save people, e.g Sept 11, 2001). The Hudson isn’t the logistical challenge the Chesapeake Bay is but I’d be willing to bet a ferry company could offer a much wanted service.
I’d be one of the first in line. Who is the visionary in our midst??
Ezra FInkin says
The ferry concept is pretty cool. Having taken car ferries in the past, it has been my experience that you end up waiting in your car – and idling – for quite a while waiting for the ferry to arrive and then deal with the stop-and-go traffic once you leave the ferry. In Seattle, folks take ferries because there is not a bridge option. For the 4.5 mile span of the Bay Bridge as an option, it seems like you would spend far longer in your car with the ferry option than driving over the bridge. Maybe in the summer months it would work out to the same amount of time, but I would guess that ferry fares would cost much more than the bridge toll.
Also, there’s nothing wrong with diesel! New engines are exponentially cleaner. New San Francisco to Oakland ferries are running new diesel engines with biodiesel and generating far less GHG emissions.