Revenue from the St. Johns River Ferry has been below budget projections by at least 20 percent from February to April, but ridership and revenue declines stopped in May.
The St. Johns River Ferry Commission received the latest numbers from Mark Fernandez, HMS-Florida Inc. general manager, at its Tuesday meeting at City Hall. HMS-Florida is contracted to operate the ferry.
In his operations report, Fernandez said revenue was 13 percent below budget for May and ridership was 16 percent below budget for the month.
Those totals stopped a downward trend that reached a 25 percent decline in revenue and a 28 percent dip in ridership in April.
This news was well received by the commission members, who said the summer months are the service's busiest time of year and will help its outlook in preparation of the 2013-14 ferry budget.
The commission will need to develop its budget without the combined $400,000 it received in fiscal 2012-13 from the Jacksonville Port Authority and the City. Each allocated $200,000 for that fiscal year.
"We are going to have to find it somewhere," said City Council member John Crescimbeni, who chairs the commission.
The commission also is preparing to release a request for proposals for a ferry operator.
"We've found some other marine services companies. We wanted to try to get as many responses as possible. The way the RFP is drafted now, the end of the response period is July 24, but that could be extended," said Paige Johnston, City assistant general counsel.
Commission member Larry Williams volunteered to be one of the evaluators of the applicants. Another commission member will be selected before the closing date.
The commission budgeted $1.4 million for the contract in fiscal 2012-13.
With another holiday weekend starting today, the commission discussed extending operation hours.
It extended its hours May 3-4 for the Isles of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in Fernandina for passengers staying for the fireworks show, but inclement weather made for low ridership numbers.
The commission approved extending hours to 9 p.m. today and Friday and extending hours until 11:15 p.m. July 19-20 during The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek.
The tournament has added a fireworks display July 20 to its list of festival activities for 2013.
Commission member Elaine Brown asked for approval to create a ferry ambassadors program for volunteers to help with the experience of riding the ferry by providing directions, handing out pamphlets and taking pictures of riders to post on the website.
"They would help make the whole experience more fun," said Brown.
The commission approved the program and it will be developed with the assistance of HMS-Florida Inc. and The Friends of the St. Johns River Ferry, a nonprofit group created to encourage the retention, continuation and preservation of the St. Johns River Ferry.
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