Commercial Ferry Service to Long Island

Overview

The City of New Haven is working to establish a commercial ferry service between New Haven and Long Island.  Currently there are twelve (12) ferry services operating in the Long Island Sound.

The Bridgeport-Port Jefferson line carried nearly one million passengers and 500,000 vehicles on the ferry in 2000.  The City of New Haven believes that a ferry service would be highly successful both for commercial and recreational purposes.  Numerous economic benefits would be enjoyed by both sides of the ferry, as is demonstrated in Bridgeport.

New Haven Harbor 

                                          

Long Island Sound Waterborne Transportation Plan

The Long Island Sound Ferry Coalition and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council have completed a study which includes the New Haven project.  To learn more about the economic and transportation benefits of a commercial ferry service, please look at the LIS Waterborne Transportation Plan

 

Project Status

In 2005, the new federal transportation act (SAFETEA-LU) earmarked $5 million to initiate a ferry service.  In addition, a $100, 000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation will help the City undertake a feasibility study of the Belle Dock terminal site located at the southeast corner of East and Water Street.  This study will commence in the third quarter of 2006. 

• The Feasibility Study  purports to: “conduct a major investment study and implementation program for an intermodal and waterfront reuse of a 25-acre site at the southeast corner of Water Street and East Street in New Haven, Connecticut, primarily for the purpose of establishing a commercial ferry terminal.”

The city welcomes input on this project from residents, neighbors and businesses.  
Concept of Ferry Terminal Site at Belle Dock