JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After a three-month break, the St. Johns River ferry resumed operations on Wednesday at 6 a.m. The ferry went through routine vessel maintenance. Its services had been suspended since late January.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
Drivers have missed the ferry, saying it was good for saving both time and money.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
“I take the ferry about once or twice a week,” Griffis said.
“I’ve been here off and on since 2008 and I’ve been taking the ferry ever since,” Beale said.
John Griffis and Mark Beale are just two of many drivers who made their way to Mayport this morning to hitch a ride on the St. Johns River ferry. By riding the ferry, Griffis cuts his commute to work in Amelia Island in half.
“About an hour door-to-door so it’s quite a long trip so the ferry saves time if you plan it well,” Griffis said.
The ferry is a 5-minute trip that sails across the St. Johns River. It departs from Mayport Village and Docks in Ft. George Island which is a good 25-minute drive to Amelia Island saving Griffis 30 minutes.
For Beale it’s about saving an extra $15 worth of gas in his pickup truck.
“About 22 miles round trip from Naval Station Mayport over to, taking 295 over the Dames Point so quite a bit of time and fuel,” Beale said.
Related Story: St. Johns Ferry service suspension delayed to January 25
Still, both men wish Mayport had two ferries to keep the river’s crossing available at all times.
“It would be nice if there was a second vessel that could fill in during that gap but that also cost a lot of money,” Beale said.
“It’s certainly good for emergencies or for people that live on Heckscher to get over to this side of town especially if there’s closures on the bridge but were short of having a second ferry,” Griffis said.
In an effort to try and keep the ferry running year-round JTA’s CEO Nathaniel Ford says that plans have been made to bring in a second ferry. Now, because the St. Johns River ferry is 27 years old Ford says the next one needs to be quote, “future proof.”
“We are looking at alternative fuels, will it be a hybrid electric type of vessel, will it be it be all electric and so with it needing to have a 30-to-50-year life we have to look far into the future,” Ford said.
Ford says preliminary designs and engineering have already begun and that he and other JTA officials are working with the federal government to get a ferry grant of about $35M for a second ferry and additional docks. If the grant is approved, Mayport will have a new ferry in 3 to 5 years.
Related Story: St. Johns River Ferry resumes service on May 3rd after maintenance
Ford also explained why the ferry’s return can be delayed at times during its routine vessel maintenance. He says it’s a top to bottom and inside out check adding that inspecting all the engines does take time to ensure worker and public safety.
Plus, if something is wrong on the vessel and new parts need to be ordered then the world’s ongoing supply chain issues do play a part.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
If you would like to take a ride on the St. Johns River Ferry, click here.
Sign Up
