We’ve been asking for your questions as part of our project Breaking Point: The Washington Bridge. Political reporter Ian Donnis responds to a question from community member Ian B., who asks: Why did the state stop offering ferry service to commuters just as it was getting off the ground?
What reasons did the state give for stopping the ferry service between Bristol and Providence?
Ian Donnis: The service was operated by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). They said it cost $50,000 a day to run the service, and there just was not enough ridership to justify the expense.
How has the state responded to criticism about launching the ferry during a time of year with lower expected ridership?
Donnis: I talked with Charles St. Martin, spokesman for the (Rhode Island) Department of Transportation, via email. He says RIDOT is open to the possibility of new ferry routes, and it’s looking for ways to pay for it, but right now, they don’t have additional plans.
How popular are the state’s other ferries right now?
Donnis: The seasonal ferry that runs from Providence to Newport is pretty popular. It’s attracted more than 300,000 passengers, and to the concern raised by Ian B., it does include a stop in Bristol on weekends. We all live in the Ocean State, and the idea of riding a ferry is nice. Many of us have gone down to Newport. You can go on a tour, on a sailboat. It’s beautiful to be out on the water. But it seems like the hard part is making the economics work for an additional ferry service.
Do we know if the state would consider offering a Bristol–Providence ferry again?
Donnis: It seems like a really nice idea, but I’d say don’t count on it, unless a funding source emerges to pay for that kind of service. And the state is in lean times economically. It seems unlikely to happen. People might have to content themselves with riding on the seasonal Providence to Newport ferry with stops in Bristol on the weekends. That starts June 21 and runs through sometime in October.
Anything else to add?
Donnis: Well, we are mindful of how RIPTA, the state public transit agency, is always strapped for money. The new house budget includes $15 million additional for RIPTA. That’ll almost cut in half the transit agency’s deficit. But paying for transit in a small state like Rhode Island, you think it wouldn’t be that difficult, but it always seems it’s harder than we would suspect.
This story is part of Breaking Point: The Washington Bridge, a community-centered project from Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio.
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