May 31 2008
Toledo/Put-in-Bay Ferry Service Test Run
The City of Toledo recently built a $3.2 million dollar ferry terminal on the Maumee River. One of the dreams was and is to run regular ferry service between Toledo and Put-in-Bay Island. This would be a boon to area recreationalists. Western Lake Erie is certainly more scenic than the Ohio Turnpike.
The Toledo Blade reports that a test run of the Jet Express II ferry ran yesterday morning to the islands. It was filled with radio station contest winners and about 15 people who purchased the $55 one-way tickets. $55 tickets, you ask? Well, getting to Put-in-Bay can be an expensive proposition. Regular round-trips from Port Clinton and Sandusky run from $24 to $32 on the Jet Express fast ferries. The Miller Ferries from Catawba Island are the cheapest, shortest and I think, coolest. The Miller Ferries are only $12 round-trip.
Still, once gas prices are figured into the equation, $55 is not unfair. The boat was, essentially, a charter. One would assume that a regular service with economies of scale might result in a slightly cheaper price. And the bonus is a trip through picturesque western Lake Erie. I hope this succeeds.
Here are excerpts and the story link:
“Hopefully, this will be the first step to many trips running out of Toledo,” said Lance Woodworth, the director of operations for Put-in-Bay Boat Line Co., the Jet Express ferry operator.
But how many more such trips there will be, and whether ferry service with any sort of regular schedule ever will land in Toledo, remained an open question.
Tom Brady, the boat line’s advertising director, expressed disappointment that only 15 passengers bought $55 tickets for yesterday’s excursion. The other 42, who won their trips in a contest sponsored by Pepsi and local radio stations WIOT-FM and WVKS-FM, accounted for less than half of the actual contest winners.
Pepsi and the radio stations chartered the Jet Express II for the excursion, and Mr. Brady said he expects to run the same charter next year.
Mr. Woodworth said the Jet Express generally needs more than 100 passengers to break even.
One potential obstacle to scheduled ferry service from the terminal is the CSX Transportation railroad bridge downstream, near the port authority’s general cargo dock.
While the Jet Express II fit underneath the Craig bridge without needing a drawbridge opening, the CSX bridge is too low for it.
Yesterday’s inbound trip to pick up passengers was delayed by about 30 minutes until the railroad bridge opened, and the outbound trip toward Put-in-Bay with passengers aboard waited at the bridge for about 10 minutes even though no trains passed during that time.
Note: I was not on this particular island run. The pics above are from a trip that Kathy and I made last summer.