CROWN POINT u Officials from New York and Vermont have agreed to subsidize two ferry services for those needing to cross Lake Champlain.
The deteriorating Lake Champlain bridge closed indefinitely in early October, forcing motorists to take a 100-mile detour or pay up to $16 a day to commute by ferry.
According to Gov. David Paterson's office, the two states have partnered with Lake Champlain Transportation to offer free ferry service for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, buses, fuel trucks and standard-width agricultural vehicles, including dairy trucks.
The ferry carrying motorists across Lake Champlain between Essex, N.Y. and Charlotte, Vt. is running from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week.
According to state Department of Transportation spokesman Skip Carrier, the ferry runs two boats, each capable of carrying up to 27 cars, and the service will continue throughout the winter.
The two states also came to an agreement with the operator of the Fort Ticonderoga Ferry to offer free service between Ticonderoga, N.Y. and Shoreham, Vt. seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Fort Ticonderoga ferry is capable of carrying 15 to 18 vehicles per trip.
The Ticonderoga ferry will not run all winter, but Carrier was not sure when it will close.
Both ferries, previously requiring tickets, are now free to the public, operating on state subsidies.
A pedestrian ferry service is also in place between Westport, N.Y. and Basin Harbor, Vt.
The building of a temporary bridge south of the Ticonderoga ferry has been discussed, but Carrier said the Transportation Department has decided against that venture after hearing from the public that Ticonderoga, at the southern tip of the lake, is inconvenient for many commuters and travelers.
"We're still looking for temporary bridge sites, but right now we're concentrating on looking for a site for a ferry south of the Lake Champlain Bridge," he said.
Dale French, supervisor of Crown Point, said Essex County officials are looking into filing a class-action lawsuit against the state because of the thousands of dollars lost with the closing of the bridge.
"Businesses have lost thousands of dollars, communities have lost thousands of dollars. We're even losing money at the county level. It's not an inconvenience, it's a hardship," French said. "They've neglected this bridge for years. It's just something we'll have to do if they don't act in good faith and get us a bridge over here."
For bridge information and crossing options, log onto www.lcbclosure.org.
Posted in State-and-regional on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 6:40 pm | Tags: Ferry, Champlain
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