Joe Riccio
203-384-9777
Immediate
The Bridgeport Port Authority feasibility study strongly supports the launching of the High Speed Ferry project to offer alternative commuting transportation for commuters between Bridgeport, Stamford and New York.
Analysis done by TPA Design Group of New Haven and Martin Associates of Lancaster, PA, indicates that a viable market exists for a high speed ferry service. In response to a survey, 80 percent of commuters said they would consider using the ferry service. The study proposes a two ferry boat service initially operating at peak commuting times at both morning and night during week days. A two boat service could also be developed for weekends to serve tourist attractions in other parts of New England. There’s also evidence for off-peak weekday ridership that one boat could service.
The cost for commuters would be competitive with other forms of transportation – railway or by car. In particular, it would probably prove cheaper for car commuters and slightly more expensive than rail transportation. The High Speed Ferry could offer commuters assigned seating and wireless Internet connection in a climate controlled area.
The BPA’s goal in pursuing the high speed ferry project is to reduce the amount of cars traveling on I-95 and offer Connecticut citizens an option to the highway or train, but is not meant to compete with either type of transportation.
Joseph A. Riccio, Executive Director of the Bridgeport Port Authority, applauded the study’s results and was anxious to move the project forward.
“We’ve been pursuing this project for more than several years,” Riccio said. “The feasibility study was a critical hurdle to get beyond. It clearly shows that we’re on the right track and will take the project to the next level.”
Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi thought the feasibility study complemented several of the mixed use developments under design in the City’s downtown and South End.
“This report shows that there is credibility to this project,” Farbrizi said. “It certainly gives the City and Connecticut Department of Transportation solid reasons to complete the balance of the feasibility phases of this project. It is our hope that we will be able to link our transit oriented development initiatives with increased waterborne commuter options for Bridgeport area residents and employers.”
During the last several years, the BPA was awarded nearly $9 million to develop the High Speed Ferry Service. The City of Stamford has also received $6.1 million for the same purpose.
The next steps of the project are:
- Find a site to house the High Speed Ferry service,
- Negotiate for the procurement of the site,
- Design the High Speed Ferry terminal, parking facility and necessary infrastructure.
Stamford, which will be a significant participant in the project, also embraces it and is anxious to pursue it on the City’s end. Stamford Mayor Daniel Malloy sees the High Speed Ferry as an attractive alternative for commuters coming from the Bridgeport area as well as for those traveling to New York.
“Stamford has no ferry facilities at the moment, but has earmarked the south end of Stamford as an ideal landing service for the high speed ferry,” Molloy said. “The City will pursue the construction of the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the ferry, such as a terminal, parking garage and roads.
The BPA is a quasi-public entity that has jurisdiction over Bridgeport’s harbors, both Bridgeport and Black Rock. It also owns and operates Water Street Dock and ferry terminal facility and the Bridgeport Regional Maritime Complex, which will be the future home of the Bridgeport Barge Service.
