Ferry commuters escape the bustle of a car or train commute -- and the congestion of New York City.
For Nutmeggers who drive to work on the state’s jam-packed highways or pile into Metro-North trains during the morning rush, the thought of commuting by sea might seem like a tranquil alternative -- but not necessarily a realistic transit option.
But if you’re Fred Hall, Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Ferry General Manager of over 30 years, ferry commuters aren’t anything new. In fact, Hall sees the number of commuters who cross Long Island Sound every day as an indicator of how the economy is doing.
“If the walk-on numbers are climbing, then I know the economy is not in that great shape because people are going out-of-state looking for work,” Hall said. “As the economy improves, those numbers drop off, but my car traffic increases because people feel more comfortable taking vacations.”
Recently, Hall said, the monthly walk-on tickets have declined -- slightly. But the drive-on passenger numbers are still good, and if Hall’s theory is right, it could mean things are looking up for the region’s economy.
For the small group of regular walk-on commuters, the ferry is often the transit connection that makes commuting between the states possible.
Without the ferry, Meriden resident Wilbur Farley’s commute could be over four hours each way. The ferry cuts a 250-mile round trip via road or rail down to the distance to the harbor and 15 miles across the Sound.
Farley, a lecturer at Stony Brook University, finds solace in his 75-minute escape from the bustle of a car or train commute. The strong winter winds of the Sound don’t stop him from standing out on the deck for a smoke.
If not for the ferry, Wilbur Farley's commute could be over four hours each way.
“After being at work, teaching classes, meeting with students, it’s nice to get on the ferry, be able to sit at the bar, have a beer, talk to some of the other regular commuters -- and unwind,” Farley said.
The ferry might be one of the few transit options where there's a built-in bar. There's a cafe too -- dubbed "The Galley." And a few arcade games for the kids.
Farley said he prefers riding during these winter months when there are fewer tourists on board. Even during the winter, the ferry sees lots of vacationers crossing to make the trip north to ski country. General Manager Hall said the ferry is at its busiest when public schools are out of session.
The ferry route was formalized in the late 1800s in part by famous circusman and Bridgeport Mayor P.T. Barnum, who wanted to tie Long Island’s agriculture to Bridgeport’s manufacturing.
It’s a connection that could evolve in the next decade. The Federal Rail Administration is exploring options to build a high-speed rail system across New England, and one of those alternatives is building a tunnel from Long Island to New Haven.
An advancing biotech industry could reconnect the island to the shoreline after a slump in the defense industry in the 1990s. A direct train line would make the commute quicker. But as for relaxation, the ferry still might come out on top.
Sitting in the passenger's cabin with her laptop, Andreia Blanchard of Shelton said her commute on the ferry is her “zen” moment of the day.
“I have all this water. It’s peaceful. It’s therapeutic,” Blanchard said. “And economically, it’s sound. It gives me the opportunity to finish up some things before I get home. And vice versa, when I’m going to work, I get ahead on some of the projects before I even get in.”
On a cold February evening, Russell Howell, who crosses on the ferry regularly for his equipment maintenance business, was parked by the ship’s end next to the water, choosing to sit in his truck rather than in the passenger cabin where the ferry’s bar and cafe is located.
The weather can be choppy on the ferry sometimes, but right now, he said the ride -- and the view across his dashboard -- has been enjoyable.
“If it was during the day, it would be a lot nicer. But it wasn’t a bad ride -- compared to last week,” Howell said.
The service operates continuously through the year, with boats arriving on each side starting at 6:00 am Monday through Saturday, and running hourly until 10:00 pm on the weekends. During holiday periods, the service increases its frequency during the week.
General Manager Hall said the number of regular commuters has fluctuated several times since he started working for the ferry service. He was brought on full-time the 1980s to increase ridership after the ferry had increased its capacity from 35 to 90 cars.
“My biggest enemy was the glovebox,” Hall said. “Because maps, which everybody used to carry in their glovebox -- all used to say ‘summer only’ on the route.”
The dawn of the GPS age hasn’t hurt their visibility. Last year, the ferry carried 8,000 trucks, buses, and motorcycles, 447,000 cars, and 1.3 million people across the Sound.
WNPR intern Jackson Mitchell contributed to this report.
