The document summarizes a presentation given to the APO85 Ferry Committee on the current state of ferry services in the United States and the committee's planned research topics. It provides an overview of what constitutes a ferry and water taxi, notes that over 200 ferry operators currently serve 42 states, and outlines some of the benefits of ferry services. It also discusses sources of federal support and the MAP-21 transportation bill as well as the committee's strategic direction and next steps.

1. Pre-Session Inquiry
1. Do you take a ferry to work?
2. If so, how to you get to the ferry?
a. Bus/rail?
b. Bicycle?
c. Drive?
3. If not, do you…
a. Drive alone?
b. Carpool?
c. Bus/rail?
d. Walk?
e. Bicycle?
f. Vanpool?
g. Telecommute?
4. If one is convenient, why not?
5. Would you take a ferry if available and only 10-20
more minutes commuting time?

2. APO85 Ferry Committee:
The Way Ahead
April 2014
Noël P. Comeaux, AICP, PMP
Chair, APO85 Ferry Committee
Transportation Research Board
Past-Chair, Transportation Planning Division
American Planning Association

3. Today’s Presentation
 What is a Ferry?
 Current State of Ferries in the United
States
 Benefits of Ferry Services
 Federal Support
 APO85 TRB Ferry Committee
 Planned Research Topics
 Next Committee Meeting & Steps

4. What is a Ferry?
• Ferry:
• Defined in 46 USC 2102(10b).
• Normally runs between set points &
on set schedules.
• Water Taxi:
• A small passenger vessel that can be used as a ferry or to final destination,
as directed by a passenger (or the someone hiring the vessel).
• Normally, water taxis are not large and run routes that are not economical
for larger ferry operations.
Both fall under the legal
definition of a passenger
vessel or a small passenger
vessel & require U.S. Coast
Guard certification to carry 6
or more passengers for hire.

5. The Current State…
 National Census of Ferry Operators
• 2010 Data Query
 Are Ferries Currently Being Utilized?
• Over 200 Operators
• 42 States
• Over 53 million passengers
• Over 23 million vehicles
• Over 600 average daily passenger boardings (avg’d across
all the services)
• Over 680 average daily vehicle boardings (avg’d across all
the services)

6. Source: DOT Census of Ferry Operators

7. Benefits 0f Ferry Services
 Washington, DC Metro Area – #1 in Congestion
• Urban Mobility Report, 2012
 Walkability (“Sanity”)
• Proximity to other residential or retail development?
• Proximity to other urban modes of transportation
 Energy
• Liquefied Natural Gas – less emissions
 Transit Oriented Development
• San Francisco, Seattle, etc.
 Eligible for Commuter Benefits
• Commuter ferry services are eligible for Federal benefits up to $130
monthly
 Emergency Evacuation
• There is existing waterside infrastructure.
• Public vessel capacity may be an issue.

8. Historic Cape May

9. Cape May-Lewes Ferry

10. Travel Options

11. The Alternative?

12. Federal Support
 Maritime Administration
• America’s Marine Highway Program
• Gateway Office Regional Support
 Federal Highway Administration
• Formulary Ferry Grant Program
 Federal Transit Administration
• Discretionary Ferry Grant Program
 US Coast Guard
• Permitting/Vessel Certification (Safety Inspection)
• Channel Buoy Maintenance
 National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
• Navigation Charts
Infrastructure
Only

13. Congressional Testimony
 House Transportation & Infrastructure
Committee
• Testimony - March 26, 2014
• USCG Admiral Papp, FMC Chairman Cordero &
Acting Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip”
Jaenichen
• Addressed maritime funding
 What does this mean?
• Doing “the same” with less for USCG security
efforts including for the Passenger Vessel Safety
Program.

14. Moving Ahead for Progress
in the 21st Century (MAP-21)
 Formulary Grant Program
• Federal Highway Administration
 Discretionary Grant Program
• Federal Transit Administration
 NOFA closed October 21, 2013
 Applications currently being reviewed
 Program Manager
• Vanessa Williams
• 202-366-4818
• Vanessa.Williams@dot.gov

15. Departmental Support
 Maritime Administration
• Seneca Sok
 202-366-6639
 Federal Highway Administration
• Joseph Taylor
 410-779-7146
 Federal Transit Administration
(Planning)
• Jeffrey Spencer
 202-366-0550
• Charlene Wilder
 202-366-1077

16. APO85 TRB Ferry Committee
 Purpose
• To foster and distribute useful information / research concerning ferry
systems
 Audience
• To users, operators, suppliers, manufacturers, and regulators.
 Research
• Ferry requirements, operations, planning, management, design,
construction, maintenance, and utilization.
• Ferries that operate in ocean, coastal, inland, and river environments
are included.
• Other ideas?!
 Websites
• TRB:
http://www.trb.org/CommitteeandPanels/Public/OnlineDirectory.as
px#DetailsType=Committee&ID=1175
• Google: https://sites.google.com/site/trbferry/
• Linkedin: Coming Soon!

17. Committee’s 2014-17
Composition
Non-Profit Org.
(Research/Assoc.)
29%
State
Government
14%
Local/Regional
Government
14%
Federal
Government
19%
Operator
19%
Port
5% Non-Profit Org.
(Research/Assoc.)
State Government
Local/Regional
Government
Federal Government
Operator
Port

18. APO85’s Direction
 First Year
• Connectivity to urban and rural transit service
• Development of P3s involving:
 Transit agency development (for a new privately operated service)
 Electronic ticketing
 Terminal design and development
• Market assessment for new, emerging, or additive markets
• GHG Emissions reduction from alternate fuels development
• Governance
• Business Case for Ferries
• Ferries and the environment (climate change impacts)
including reducing water and shoreline impacts.
• Cost comparison between ferry & other modes
 Infrastructure development & operational/maintenance
• Congested waterways - a major concern for Passenger Vessel
Operators

19. APO85’s Direction
 After the First Year
• Connectivity to urban and rural transit services including
bus and rail
• GHG Emissions reduction from alternate fuels
development
• Ferries and the environment (climate change impacts)
including how to reduce water and shoreline impacts.
• Comparison of infrastructure development and
operational/maintenance costs to ferry development and
operational/maintenance costs, given various
requirements from passenger to vehicular to truck/freight.
 This would entail a greater business case for ferry services due to
increase labor and material costs.

20. Next Meeting & Steps
 Meeting:
• Time:
 Monday, June 23, 2014; 1:00 - 5:00 PM
• Place:
 National Academy of Sciences
 Next Steps:
• Outline / Develop Strategic Plan
• Determine Research Needs
 Synergy of Marine & Transit Efforts
• Look for Additional Committee Members &
“Friends” of the Committee

21. TRB-CMTS Joint Conference
 3rd Biennial Research & Development Conference
• “Innovative Technologies for a Resilient Marine Transportation System”
• June 24-26, 2014
• For more information, contact Scott Brotemarkle, TRB, at
Sbrotemarkle@nas.edu.
 Topics to be addressed include:
• Assessing the State of Marine Transportation System (MTS)
Infrastructure
• MTS Quantitative & Qualitative Performance
• Environmental Stewardship: Moving from Research to Best
Practices
• MTS Resilience: Developing Tools for the Future
• Engineering With Nature, Utilizing 'Grey' and 'Green'
Infrastructure Solutions
• The Future of e-Navigation: Innovating Digital Possibilities

22. Thank you!
 Further Information
• TRB website
• Google website
• Linked website
 Contact Information:
• Noël P. Comeaux, AICP, PMP
 Chair, TRB Ferry Committee
 202-366-5527
 Noel.Comeaux@dot.gov