State reduces travel schedule for Jamestown-Scotland Ferry this summer. Why?

RICHMOND – Service for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will be reduced next week while state transportation officials deal with trying to find additional personnel to work the ships.

Starting Monday, no more than two ferries will be transporting motorists across the James River between 2-8:30 p.m. daily. The rest of the time, including overnight and mornings, only one ferry will be sailing.

Previously, as many as four ferries would be in service depending upon the traffic volume.

The corridor, which carries state Route 31 between Scotland Wharf in Surry County and the Jamestown area in James City County, is mostly rural but remains very popular among travelers and motorists trying to avoid Interstate 64 and U.S. Routes 60 and 460.  It also is a centerpiece of the "5 & Dime" trail, an economic collaborative project launched last year by localities along state Routes 5 and 10 that link Route 31 on either side of the James.

The ferry system is the only James River crossing between the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge in Prince George County and the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel in Newport News – a distance of almost 70 miles.

The Virginia Department of Transportation, which oversees operations at the three-mile crossing between James City and Surry counties, said the new schedule was necessary due to “current staffing levels among an industry-wide shortage of critical, certified maritime positions.

“Despite these temporary challenges, VDOT is committed to maintaining a continuous 24-hour service for the public for as long as possible during this time,” the department said in a statement.

The change in schedule caught state Sen. Lashrecse Aird and Del. Kim Taylor – the two legislators whose districts include Surry County – by surprise. Both cited their concerns about access for residents in largely rural Surry.

Aird, D-Petersburg, said she was “shocked” to learn that VDOT planned the reduction without much advance notice to regular ferry users.

“The ferry has been the lifeline for access to Surry County. As a driver for workers, economic development, and tourism in the heart of travel season is unreasonable,” Aird said. “Furthermore, this change can significantly compromise accessibility to critical healthcare resources.”

Taylor, R-Dinwiddie County, said she had “significant concerns” about the timing of VDOT’s announcement.

“The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry is a critical transportation link for residents of James City County and Surry County, providing essential connectivity across the James River,” Taylor said. “The reduction in service hours will inevitably impact our community in several profound ways.”

Click here to see the updated schedule.

Incentives

Aird, who was in Richmond Monday for a special Senate session, said she met with VDOT officials to discuss the schedule changes. She said the department told her it annually goes through a shortfall in ferry operators because their jobs require special Coast Guard certification, but this year, the hirings were more difficult.

VDOT is analyzing its compensation packages and will try to lure more candidates with a $10,000 signing bonus. Aird said she has asked VDOT for regular updates on the hiring process, as well as staffing ratios and how the shortage will affect wait times at either end of the route.

“The commitment was made to me that this temporary reduction will end as soon as the vacancies are fulfilled,” Aird said.

In the interim, VDOT is pointing motorists to the 511 Virginia website or Waze-driven 511 app to gauge wait times. Cameras on the 511 Virginia website capture images of waiting lines a half-mile out from the ferry landings.

Alternate routes suggested are the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel and the James River Bridge in Tidewater, and the Benjamin Harrison and Varina-Enon bridges in the Tri-City area.

Crossing the James for a century

The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry system has been in place since 1925, according to the VDOT website. It started as a private-business venture before being taken over by the state in 1945.

The fleet consists of four vessels – the Pocahontas, the Powhatan, the Williamsburg and the Surry. The Pocahontas and the Powhatan are the newest and largest of the fleet and can carry 70 cars each on the 15-20 minute ride across the James River.

In 1972, it was the subject of a country song, “The Jamestown Ferry,” recorded by Tanya Tucker.

VDOT estimates the annual cost to run the system at $12 million.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: State reduces travel schedule for Jamestown-Scotland Ferry this summer. Why?