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Local government officials and staff aboard the Provincetown III, a Boston-based ferry, ride under the Wilson Bridge |
By KELLY HANNON
A commuter ferry between Woodbridge and the Washington Navy Yard could attract enough passengers to operate, but start-up costs would be steep.
Purchasing boats and upgrading docks for the Potomac River ferry would cost between $22 million and $30 million, and running the ferry would cost $3.8 million a year, according to a feasibility study.
To recoup 40 percent of annual expenses, ferry passengers would have to pay an average of $11 round-trip, which equals $55 a week or $220 a month.
In addition, the ferry would rely partially on public support, similar to Virginia Railway Express and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission bus network.
To stay afloat, the ferry would need to attract a minimum of 141,300 passengers a year.
Results from the ferry study, funded by a $225,000 state grant, were released this week. The study was overseen by Prince William County and the Virginia Department of Transportation, working with engineering consulting firm Greenhorne & O'Mara.
The study included test ferry runs using a 149-passenger boat.
On Tuesday, Prince William County supervisors reviewed the study's findings and unanimously directed county staff to conduct a marketing study.
The study estimates at least 175,000 passengers would ride the ferry, about 30,000 more than the minimum needed.
But a marketing study is still needed to know who those riders would be, how they commute to work now and where they live, said Rick Canizales, Prince William County transportation planning manager.
"I think they're very curious to see if this would attract new riders, or if this is something that just pulls off of other transit systems," Canizales said.
Previous Woodbridge-to-Washington ferry discussions in the 1980s and 1990s fizzled over cost concerns and lack of rider interest. Virginia Railway Express was getting started at the time, and county officials feared a ferry would siphon riders away from the train--as well as buses, carpools and vanpools--instead of attracting individuals driving alone.
This debate will likely be renewed.
Fredericksburg-area residents could use the ferry to reach work destinations in Southeast Washington, although they would have to add driving time to the boat's launching point.
Based on the study's preliminary suggestions, the ferry would depart each morning from one of three locations east of Interstate 95 under consideration: Occoquan Harbour Marina and residential areas Belmont Bay or Harbour Station.
In Washington, the boat would dock blocks from the Navy Yard and Navy Yard metro stop.
The trip would take 59 minutes dock to dock, Canizales said.
Commuters would ride on 99-passenger boats, and service would run every 30 minutes in the morning and evening rush hour.
Eager riders may have to wait a while to board, however.
First, Prince William must find $100,000 to $200,000 to carry out the six-month marketing study.
After that, ordering boats could take two years, Canizales said. Plus, the board's decision on whether to proceed will follow the marketing study.
"The board is going to have to weigh out the whole cost-benefit thing," he said.
Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
Email: khannon@freelancestar.com
