Residents gathered Tuesday in Mayport Village to renew their pledge to support the St. Johns River Ferry despite the lack of funding from the Florida Department of Transportation.
Elaine Brown, former Jacksonville City Council president and chair of the St. Johns River Ferry Task Force, addressed about a dozen people Tuesday at a news conference to discuss efforts to save the service.
“As of last Friday the task force was told the Florida Department of Transportation was not going to participate in keeping the St. Johns River Ferry open,” she said.
“The task force is still committed to moving forward to get an extension of at least a year so that we can get two things to happen — ridership up and operation costs down,” she said.
Brown has been appointed to serve on the City’s newly created St. Johns River Ferry Commission, which was developed to become the operator of the ferry after the Jacksonville Port Authority decided in February to discontinue ferry operation Sept. 30.
Brown’s appointment is being reviewed by Council.
Council member John Crescimbeni, who chairs the commission, said Tuesday he was disappointed in the state’s decision and that he was “surprised but not surprised.”
“I am surprised that the state doesn’t recognize the fact that they have an obligation to connect (Florida) A1A,” he said.
He said the state’s decision to not participate at some funding level was “dishonorable” and a way for the state to pass off responsibility.
He compared it to the City contributing funds toward state road improvements through the Better Jacksonville Plan — which he said the City was not responsible for — and that the state’s refusal was a “poor way to be treated in return.”
Despite the decision, Crescimbeni said the search for funds and ferry sustainability will continue.
Brown said Tuesday the task force will hold a fundraising festival Aug. 25 in Mayport that will include live music, an art show and food trucks.
“We will be asking for everything from donations to public support to letting the governor know that we are still going to be calling for state help in the future,” she said.
Standing near Singleton’s Seafood Shack, Brown explained the ferry didn’t represent just a transportation issue. It also affected economic development and redevelopment of the Mayport area, she said.
“We also know about the harm that could be done by closing the ferry to restaurants like the one behind me,” said Brown.
“If the ferry were to be shut down, it would not only affect tourism in the area but jobs as well,” she said.
The ferry employs about 30 people.
One who could be affected by a shutdown is Bonnie O’Connor of Amelia Island, who uses the ferry to commute to her job at Mayport Naval Station’s Southeast Regional Maintenance Center. Her other option is the Dames Point Bridge.
“It would mean an additional hour of driving and 45 miles a day on my car. I don’t want to lose the ferry,” said O’Connor.
James Reeve also was waiting to roll onto the ferry Tuesday and head north on Florida A1A after visiting his parents.
“I’m hoping they can keep the ferry going. I take two trips a month to see my parents,” said Reeve.
Residents and local and state elected officials have been working since the port announcement in February to find a way to extend service until supporters could develop a plan to continue ferry operations.
They want to present a plan to the state Legislature to pursue state funding for capital improvements and operating costs.
Supporters have been working to find the funds to cover the $600,000 annual deficit created by operating the ferry, according to the port.
Currently, about $400,000 has been pledged to support the ferry but that money has to first be approved.
Council Vice President Bill Gulliford has filed legislation that seeks $100,000 from the Council contingency fund and $100,000 from lobbyist fees to support the ferry. That request has to be approved by Council.
If it is approved and the City demonstrates that it can operate the ferry for a year, the port would then contribute $200,000 to the City’s efforts.
The Atlantic Beach City Commission has approved a $5,000 contribution to the fund.
The St. Johns River Ferry Commission has developed a plan to cut the deficit in half during the first year of City operation of the ferry by raising the fare by $1 and selling advertising at both parking lots and on the ferry.
The ferry is also not scheduled for maintenance this winter, so it will not lose five weeks of revenue.
Financial support also has been pledged by other appointed members of the St. Johns River Ferry Commission.
At the June 21 meeting of the former Ad Hoc Committee on Funding the St. Johns River Ferry, Brown reported that Carl Cannon, former publisher of The Florida Times-Union, lives on Fort George Island and uses the ferry daily.
He has committed to donate $3,500 a year for three years toward the continuation of ferry operations. Brown also reported that Aaron Bowman, BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards director of business operations and a retired U.S. Navy captain, has committed to having BAE provide pro bono service for work on the ferry’s docks.
In addition, Bowman committed to a $3,500 donation for the ferry’s operations.
Cannon and Bowman are in the Council appointment review process.
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