North Ferry 'Has No Wiggle Room' to Prevent Rate Hike

The tough economy has hit the hard — and with rising fuel costs and declining traffic on Route 39, ferry representative Bridgford Hunt explained to the Greenport Village Board that he has no choice but to raise rates.

Hunt said the ferry will borrow $250,000 to fund operations this year and is projecting the company will have to borrow $500,000 next year.

“We don’t want our rates to go up, but our costs are up dramatically,” Hunt said.

According to Hunt, in 2006 the cost to take a vehicle across the bay was $6.07. In 2011, Hunt said that cost is $7.16.

If the rate hike passes the legislature, a one-way vehicle and driver pass will go from $9 to $10. A round-trip will go from $13 to $15. Coupon users will see a .50 increase one-way and a .40 increase round-trip. The five-day resident commuter pass will increase from $22 to $26. Tickets will still be available for purchase on the ferry.

“I regret our costs have gone up but we don’t have any wiggle room,” Hunt said.

Trustee Christina Kempner said she appreciates all the ferry company does but she said the ferry has an impact on the village in terms of parking maintenance and traffic. She said the village subsidizes the volume of traffic coming through to use the ferry.

“Have you considered giving a resident rate for Greenport?” she asked Hunt.

Kempner reminded Hunt many contractors and laborers use the ferry and it would be great if they could use the Shelter Island resident rate.

Conceptually, Hunt said, he agreed with Kempner’s assessment. He said the county legislature has given Shelter Island residents the discount because they are captive residents and need to take a ferry to go shopping or seek medical help. The discount can also be used if a person has a job with an approved Shelter Island based business.

Hunt said he wondered if the resident rate was given to village residents, if other Southold Town residents would expect the same discount.

Trustee Mary Bess Phillips asked if the company had plans to alleviate the traffic stress in the neighborhood adjacent to the terminal.

Hunt said the company plans to use larger signage and take a more “aggressive stance” on traffic and maintenance. He said the company has a long-range plan to add electronic fare collection to the boats.

The Suffolk County Legislature’s Budget Review Office has recommended the rate increase be approved. Legis. Ed Romaine scheduled a Aug. 16 public meeting on the rate increase in Riverhead.