Latest news with #JacksonvilleTransportationAuthority
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Johns River Ferry back on the water after weeks out of service for repairs
For the first time in close to six weeks, the St. Johns River Ferry opened up for people looking for a quicker trip to and from work, home or a weekend trip. Action News Jax told you the first week of May when the ferry service went offline after the Jacksonville Transportation Authority said it hit the boarding ramp, leaving the Mayport Village side. JTA originally said inspections and repairs could take up to 12 weeks, but the authority says it was able to get the ferry back on the water two weeks ahead of schedule. 'I don't like to really go over the Dames Point. I take it every day. So if I have a chance to take the ferry or a nice scenic route, I'm definitely on board,' said Max, one of the riders taking the ferry from Mayport Village to Fort George for work. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Riders tell Action News Jax that having the ferry service suspended led to many more hours of driving over the last few weeks than they would have normally done. For some, it meant having to go onto I-95 and over the Dames Point Bridge as their way of getting across the St. Johns River and into Mayport. 'It's a 45-minute drive to go around everything,' said one of the riders after Action News Jax boarded the ferry. 'Having the ferry back open is very convenient and it's a nice environment.' Even though the ferry was away for more than a month, there's work being done to bring another boat on board. Action News Jax told you last fall, that JTA received a $15.6 million federal grant to buy a hybrid diesel-electric ferry to add to its St. Johns River service. JTA tells Action News Jax it's on schedule to be on the water by fall 2028. JTA says the ferry is now back on its regular schedule. To find the hours it's running and how much you have to pay to get on board, you can click the link here. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
St. Johns River Ferry to resume service this Friday
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority says the St. Johns River Ferry will resume service on Friday, June 13. JTA says this reopening is two weeks ahead of schedule. Service was suspended back in May, after the ferry made contact with the boarding ramp while leaving Mayport Landing. No one was hurt in the collision. Days after the incident, JTA estimated repairs would take between six to twelve weeks depending on the availability of materials and supply chain issues. JTA adds that they were also able to complete most of the Coast Guard-required maintenance that was scheduled for next year. 'This is expected to greatly reduce the amount of time needed for that scheduled maintenance," says JTA. For more updates on the ferry, you can visit JTA's website or on the MyJTA app.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘I'm irritated': Riders speak out about St. John River Ferry service suspension
St. John River Ferry riders are not happy after learning that the ferry service will be down for up to 12 weeks. What was a 5-minute trip between the Mayport and Fort George Ferry landings is now going to take drivers over 30 minutes to get to the same destination. Macaela McDonald doesn't take the St. Johns River Ferry every day but she does take it sometimes. 'It's going to be an inconvenience for a lot of other people that have to take it to and from work every day,' McDonald said. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority said the ferry struck the boarding ramp while leaving Mayport Landing on Sunday. While no one was injured, structural inspections of both the bridge and the ferry revealed a need for repairs. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Once those repairs are complete, JTA said service will resume. But that could take six to 12 weeks. According to JTA, total passenger ridership for the St. Johns River Ferry for the last calendar year was 432,178. The average daily ridership last year in the month of May was 1,447, and for June last year was 1,455. 'It's going to be a pain in the butt,' ferry rider Mike Alton said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Alton takes the Ferry quite often. With the ferry being suspended, he's not excited about the extra time he needs to allot for his commute. 'Now you've got to go 30 minutes all the way, way down to Egypt in order to jump on the Dames Point, in order come back 30 minutes this way,' Alton said. 'That's just to get to here. So, you're wasting an hour.' We've reached out to JTA to get an incident report for the ferry hitting the boarding ramp at Mayport. They said they will provide it for us once the investigation is complete. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Update on St. Johns River Ferry Service Suspension
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has updated the status of the St. Johns River Ferry service. While the ferry vessel itself remains fully operable, recent assessments have identified the need for significant repairs to the ramp structure. JTA estimates these repairs could take approximately six to twelve weeks, depending on materials availability and supply chain factors. The JTA continues to work closely with its operations partner, HMS Ferries, as it conducts a thorough investigation into the incident. Once the investigation is complete, JTA says it is committed to sharing the findings with the public to ensure transparency and accountability. " We recognize the vital role the St. Johns River Ferry plays in our community and appreciate the public's patience as we work diligently to safely and efficiently restore service.'- JTA spokesperson. For further updates, visit or the MyJTA mobile app.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
St. Johns River Ferry temporarily out of service after hitting ramp: JTA
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) announced Monday that it is temporarily suspending St. Johns River Ferry operations after it was damaged Sunday evening. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] JTA says the ferry struck the boarding ramp while leaving Mayport Landing. While no one was injured, structural inspections of both the bridge and the ferry revealed a need for repairs. Once those repairs are complete, JTA says service will resume. The incident is currently under investigation. Action News Jax is working to learn exactly how much damage it took and how long repairs are expected to take. Read: Traffic Alert: Congestion expected as construction on King Street in St. Augustine begins [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
