Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry
The P.T. Barnum at Port Jefferson Harbor
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| Waterway | Long Island Sound |
|---|---|
| Line | Bridgeport - Port Jefferson |
| Carries | passengers, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, trucks, and buses of all sizes |
| Operator | Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company |
| Began operation | 1883 |
| Travel time | 1 hour and 15 minutes, one way |
| No. of vessels | 3 |
| No. of terminals | 2 |
| Yearly ridership | 1,000,000 (2005) |
| Yearly vehicles | 460,000 (2005) |
The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry crosses Long Island Sound between the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut and the Long Island village of Port Jefferson, New York.
The first ferry service began in 1872 and proved popular. The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company was subsequently founded in 1883 by several backers, including P.T. Barnum, who served as the first president of the ferry line. Another important founder of the line was Charles E. Tooker, who was the first captain of the Nonowantuc. All season transportation began in 1983 with the launching of the Grand Republic. Since 1980, the President has been Brian McAllister who also owns one hundred percent of the company's shares. The McAllisters purchased the company in 1960 from Joseph Tooker. Both the city of Bridgeport and the Bridgeport Port Authority receive a percentage of the ferry's ticket sales.
The Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company sponsors the Ferry Cup for the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball's Bridgeport Bluefish and Long Island Ducks. The teams ride the ferry to play each other all season, and the cup is awarded to whichever team has more victories over the other.
Several expansions are under consideration for the line.
Since 2006 a proposal has been under consideration to add another run to the ferry's operations. The new service would link Bridgeport to Stamford, Connecticut with a 45-minute one-way trip, reducing the current 1hr 15min trip, with a continuation on to lower Manhattan. A feasibility study has come out in support of a two boat solution to run during peak commuting hours, possibly including one boat service for off peak and weekend traffic. So far $9 million has been spent on the project up to 2008.
Since 2004 there have been discussions to expand service to include New Haven as a destination from Port Jefferson. Initially one boat would be used from the existing three ship fleet, but if demand warrants a fourth ferry would be added.
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Wikipedia