JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The St. Johns River Ferry is now set to get some much-needed help, in the form of an extra ferry boat, thanks to a $15.6 million investment by the Department of Transportation.
The move now promises to add to what many in the Fort George Island, Mayport, and Jacksonville communities rely upon as an alternative way across the St. Johns, instead of dealing with extra miles and traffic on the Dames Point Bridge.
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“I mean I’ll do 75 [miles per hour] on it, but then people cross in front of me at 90,” Jacksonville local Brett Melvin told Action News Jax Wednesday. “And I’m like, ‘OK, this isn’t safe.’ So I find [the ferry] safer. I find it less congested. I find it more peaceful.”
The announcement also comes after Action News Jax told the community in May when the lone ferry operating went out of service entirely, and stayed out of service for weeks. That temporary loss of service happened after the current boat crashed into the boarding ramp.
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Commuters like Lauren Inman told Action News Jax Wednesday it will be nice knowing a second ferry boat will now always be at the ready in times of need.
“This is like a bridge to the rest of A1A. It’s necessary for a lot of people,” Inman said. “I’m a native Jacksonville person, and I remember when there were two ferries before, so I’m thrilled.”
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Now, Jacksonville locals say the hope is with a second ferry on the horizon, it will not only add an extra option during times of maintenance, but possibly lead to expanded service for the community at large.
“I think would be good, though, if they’re going to do that, to go in every 15 minutes instead of every half hour from either side, let them cross in the middle,” Melvin said. “If you’re not making money with it, it’s not doing you any good.”
Action News Jax has reached out to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, which operates the ferry, to see if there are plans to expand service frequency now with two ferries set to be in operation, but are still waiting on a response.
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