JTA wins grant to buy second St. Johns River Ferry boat

The Jean Ribault is getting a backup to ferry people, cars and trucks across the St. Johns River between Mayport and Fort George Island, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority announced Monday.

JTA won a federal grant to pay for the purchase of a new diesel hybrid-electric ferry to supplement the existing St. Johns River Ferry service.

With only one boat thus far, service has had to be suspended for several weeks annually for maintenance on the vessel, JTA says, along with any unexpected repairs needed.

The second ferry, to be bought with a $15.6 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant, will ensure uninterrupted service during maintenance, JTA CEO Nathaniel Ford said in a news release. The second boat, which still needs to be built, is set to hit the water in fall of 2028.

In the same release, Mayor Donna Deegan said, “This is another exciting grant win that is a result of our fantastic collaboration with the JTA, relationships we’ve built with the Biden-Harris Administration, and the dedicated work of the grant writing teams. The new hybrid-fuel ferry vessel will increase connectivity, sustainability, and economic competitiveness for the historic communities of Mayport Village and Fort George.

The Jean Ribault , built almost 30 years ago, connects the north and south ends of Florida A1A in Duval County, its nearly 1-mile voyage taking about 5 minutes. It has already carried 391,000 passengers this year.

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