Ferries Saved, for Now

The state's Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a notice Tuesday canceling the comment period on road alterations that would affect the ferry services in both Rocky Hill-Glastonbury and Hadlyme-Chester.

The original from the DOT detailed its plans to discontinue both the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury and the Hadlyme-Chester ferry services. The notice stated that "ferry service will no longer be provided at the terminus of scenic road Route 160 at the Connecticut River in Glastonbury" and the "discontinuance would alter a portion of Route 148 that has been designated as a scenic road." 

The statute also stated that "there shall be a comment period following the public notice during which interested persons may submit written comments." With the most recent DOT notice, that comment period has officially been cancelled.

The discontinuation of the state's ferries was originally part of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's broader effort to close a $1.6 billion shortfall in his two-year budget if an agreement could not be reached with the unions. The unions ratified the  last week with the hope that most, if not all of the cuts would be reversed.

As a result of Malloy’s “Plan B” budget and the DOT notice to close the ferries, grassroots efforts to save the historic ferries were taken up by groups in both Rocky Hill-Glastonbury and Hadlyme-Chester. 

"We are glad to hear that DOT has rescinded the ferry closure order and canceled the 30-day comment period," said Humphrey Tyler, a member of the board of directors of the Hadlyme Public Hall Association, which has spearheaded efforts to save the ferries. "We in the Hadlyme community look forward to working with DOT to develop a long-term financial and operating plan for the ferries that will assure their continued service as part of our state's transportation network and as popular tourist attractions."

Despite the cancellation notice, the public meeting on the ferries will still take place in Chester this coming Thursday to discuss the “longer term needs for the ferry services.”

Kevin Nursick, the DOT's Spokesman, said the threat of closures in Malloy’s “Plan B" budget "have been removed and the ferries will remain open for the next 2-year budget cycle.”

Nursick, however, stressed the need to focus on reducing the budgetary losses associated with the the ferries. The services, he explained, “operate at a half-million dollar operational loss every season.”

“There are also bigger challenges ahead of us down the road including upgrading both ferries at a significant cost of close to $5 million apiece and we need to look for ways to help reduce cost with input from the public.”

On Monday, a public meeting was held in  regarding the ferry. Thursday's meeting in Chester will be from 6-8 p.m., at the Chester Meeting House.