Ocracoke passenger ferry transports more than 7,100 riders in 2020; Ferry service ends Sept. 10
The Ocracoke Express passenger ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke village will wrap up its 2020 season on September 10, and although the ferry had a shortened season due to both funding and COVID-19 concerns, roughly 7,127 passengers have taken a ride as of September 7.
Passenger ferry service in 2020 did not begin until July 3, and service was also temporarily interrupted in early August due to Tropical Storm Isaias. The seasonal ferry, (which officially launched in 2019), traditionally runs from late spring until shortly after Labor Day.
The Ocracoke Express carried nearly 29,000 passengers between Ocracoke and Hatteras islands during its inaugural season in the summer of 2019. The ferry makes three daily round trips between Hatteras and the Silver Lake Terminal, which is located in Ocracoke Village.
Passengers may still purchase tickets for the ferry’s last day of the season on Sept. 10 via www.ncferry.org or by calling 1-800-BY-FERRY, or by heading directly to the Hatteras or Ocracoke-Silver Lake Terminals.
The state hit this one out of the park. Last year they grossed about $292,000 and this year about $72,000. Obviously this year was not reflective on would have been, but the numbers from last year show this as being what it is…another terrible government decision which had outlandish projections that it will never meet.
If the goal is to move people by boat then you charge for the car ferry and give away passenger ferry. Make it simple at $20 or $25 per car and do not be afraid to go higher. Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island and others have ferry’s that are crazy expensive and it keeps cars off the island. For those who live there sell an annual pass for the cost of few trips. Not having traffic on the island will significantly improve the experience for everyone.
What? If you really want to cut down traffic, you charge for both the car and passenger ferry. Or even better as a state cost cutting measure with the added bonus of less traffic, with Hatteras Inlet becoming wider and harder to navigate, just stop the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferries! Oooo then you jack up the cost of the Swan Quarter and Cedar Island ferries! Lets make Ocracoke inaccessible to only the ultra rich!
Yeah, That’s The Ticket.
That is a lot of virus to contaminate Ocracoke with. Are they trying to ruin Hyde like they have done Dare?