NORFOLK, Va. — If you want to travel from Norfolk to the Peninsula, you’re probably taking a trip on either the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel or the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel — which might mean long waits in traffic.
That’s where a peninsula ferry may come in handy. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) conducted a study on the feasibility of a ferry connecting the Peninsula to the Southside. The study found that growth in jobs and population over the last 20 years has created a demand for a new way to travel.
Presenting to the Newport News City Council, the plan currently would have 3 catamaran-style boats running Monday through Friday and possibly on weekends.
HRT officials plan to present the feasibility study to Hampton and Norfolk city councils in the coming weeks.
The idea isn't new; a passenger ferry connecting the Peninsula and the Southside ran from 1999 to 2002. Low ridership caused it to close. Before the construction of the tunnels, ferrying across the water was a way of life. VDOT stopped operating ferries shortly after the bridge tunnels were finished.
HRT officials say the potential impact could be similar to the Elizabeth River Ferry that the company also runs.