Why Don't We Have More Ferries

[car54]

Originally Posted by TPL

...As for river depth, down by D.C. I believe it runs upwards of 40 feet. The Potomac is a dangerous river, though, and unlike the Hudson in NYC, or the East River, or the James River down in Norfolk, it isn't nearly as wide, and it doesn't have the channels for large shipping AFAIK. Heck, the bridges aren't even built for sizable vessels to transit underneath them!

While there are some deep spots (80-90 feet) north of Key Bridge and off of Fort Washington, Md....the Potomac River Channel averages 20-25 feet. The Potomac is not wide at DC, but south of DC, the Potomac widens a lot...to up to 11 miles.

Georgetown and Alexandria (and to a lesser extent, Bladensburg MD) were once busy seaports....and the bridges that existed at that time all opened for river traffic. Some are still in use...Memorial Bridge is a drawbridge, as is the Railroad Bridge next to the 14th St bridge, and the Anacostia Bridge near Nationals Park. And of course the brand new Wilson Bridge is a draw span, as oceangoing vessels still unload at Robinson Terminal in Alexandria, as well as the occasional visits by cruise ships.

As for the original topic, I don't think commuter ferries are feasible around here....too many people going in too many different directions. Most commuter ferries link points where lots of people are going (without cars), and where the alternatives are limited or non-existant....like Jersey to Manhattan.

[seiketsu]

Why do I keep reading this thread title as "Why don't we have more friends?"

[North Beach Person]

Why not?

Cost to run the service.
Lack of infrastructure and lack of anywhere to put the docks, ramps, etc.


They looked at one here to cross the Patuxent from Solomon's to PAX River NAS (only a few hundred yards) and the cost was $15 one way.

Supposedly one was to start up from Crisfield across the Bay to VA. Cost killed that one along with a proposed one from Solomon's to the Eastern Shore.