OCEAN CITY — The Chesapeake Bay Passenger Ferry Consortium, comprising of representatives from Anne Arundel, Calvert, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s and Somerset counties, released the findings of a feasibility study for a Chesapeake Bay passenger ferry system last Thursday during the Maryland Association of Counties Conference.
The study identified a promising opportunity to enhance transportation and economic growth across 21 coastal communities in Maryland, including Crisfield.
The initiative aims to restore water connectivity, promote tourism, and boost local economies by linking residents and visitors to bayside destinations.
“Somerset County is pleased to be a member of the Chesapeake Bay Passenger Ferry Feasibility Study Consortium,” said Commissioner President Charles Laird. “We are excited to release the results of this comprehensive study and are eager to pursue the next steps in the process in cooperation with our partners.
“The potential realization of this ambitious project could have a significant economic impact for Somerset and the entire region.”
Of the six baseline routes considered that would link 14 communities, Crisfield is a destination for two. They are Route 3, Crisfield, Solomons Island, Chesapeake Beach and Annapolis; and Route 5, Crisfield, St. Mary’s City/Leonardtown and Solomons Island.
The ridership forecast for Route 2 is 28,930 riders per year which would be 75% of maximum capacity and 16,249 per year or 63% capacity for Route 5.
The route envisioned to be at 100% capacity was Route 4 which was Easton/Cambridge, Oxford and Chesapeake Beach running twice a day.
While Routes 1 and 2 are expected to have the highest annual ridership at 87,311 and 82,139 passengers respectively, they were at 45% and 53% of maximum capacity for a 149 passenger ferry, the study states. They link locations to include Baltimore and Annapolis with Rock Hall, Kent Narrows and St. Michaels.
Each “station” would require not only the pier infrastructure but a terminal building or covered area for passengers, restrooms, and local transit. Catamaran, possibly foil-assisted ferries, with a capacity from 49 to 149 passengers depending on the route are suggested with a 25-knot cruising speed.
The proposed Baseline Passenger Ferry System, initially focusing on 14 key communities, has the potential to generate significant regional economic benefits, including job creation and increased tourism revenue, the study says.
The baseline model assumes each route operates five days per week for 26 weeks, assumed to be mid-April through mid-October. System ridership in the first year is estimated to be 50,000 passengers, resulting in $10 million in spending, including $2.5 million in ticket revenue based on an average roundtrip fare of $50.
The study, conducted by Cambridge Systematics, Inc., found significant support from community partners and stakeholders for a regional ferry system, with 67% of survey respondents expressing interest in the ferry service and 62% of community partners interested in engaging activities for visitors as well as residents.
“The Chesapeake Bay Passenger Ferry Feasibility Study and the Chesapeake Bay Passenger Ferry Consortium showcase the transformative potential of our region,” said Kristen Pironis, executive director of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County.
“Five counties across the state joined forces to work on this effort. As we explore next steps, this opportunity can expand to include partners across the Bay. We are optimistic about the study results and the path forward, which could better connect our Chesapeake Bay destinations and create economic impact across the entire state.”
The study authors noted a ferry system would likely be phased in over time, and that a baseline system could expect a $2.5 million pre-tax loss during its first year of operation.
A public/private partnership is recommended but many details need to be worked out.
The consortium would not be the ferry operator, but could assist with branding and marketing, and the work necessary to have stations ready for the service. Long term it could explore adding freight service.
“One of the biggest challenges will be the development of a funding plan,” the study states. “Significant work will be necessary to stitch each component together into a system that can be developed along a similar timeline.
“The financial plan should address planning and capital investment needs over the next 10 to 20 years to help guide the alignment of potential funding resources,” all of these steps “can take several years.”
For each participating community briefings on the study’s findings are recommended as well as a readiness assessment of ferry locations. There should also be outreach to ferry operators, and for each consortium member the identification of “champions” to move this process forward, with Recreation, Parks & Tourism Director Clint Sterling currently the point person for Somerset County.
The executive summary for the study can be found here .
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